GUWAHATI: With flood water receding, Kaziranga National Park (KNP) officials have stumbled upon more carcasses of animals that have perished in the deluge. As on Sunday, the toll of animals has increased to 198, of which 16 are rhinos.
At present the water has receded to about 50% of Kaziranga's 430 sq km area, making possible for officials to assess the damage caused by the flood inside the park.
KNP director Satyendra Singh said as the water is drying up there are chances of more carcasses surfacing up.
"Our staff can now go for patrolling and search operation for animals to areas which have dried up now. We fear that the toll of casualty may go up as the Park experienced one of the worst floods this time since 1988," Singh said.
Park officials said that many of the carcasses found inside the Park of those animals which could escape the deluge.
Singh said of the 16 rhinos, eight died of drowning and another eight perished primarily because of old age.
Rhinos are known as great swimmers, but those drowned were calves as they couldn't cope up when the intensity of flood increased. The rhinos died of old age were also unable to tide over the deluge which inundated almost 90% on Thursday.
Also six rhino calves were rescued by the Park officials and are currently under veterinary care at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation.
Kaziranga, a World Heritage Site on the southern banks of Brahmaputra, has 2000-odd rhinos.
Among other animal casualties so far, hog deer tops the list with 161 perished, mostly due to drowning and at least 12 killed by speeding vehicles. Most of the hog deer killed in vehicle-hit were when trying to cross the National Highway 37 on the southern edge of the Park for reaching elevated grounds on the adjoining KarbiAnglong district.
Next is the casualty list are eastern swamp deer. Ten of these animals got drowned during high flood.
Four wild boars,two Asiatic wild buffaloes, two sambar, one each hog badger, python and pelican also died.
