GOLAGHAT, July 6 – The Indian one-horned rhinoceros which is the pride of India in general and Assam in particular is facing serious threat from the annual floods.

The species was once abundant in a huge area from Afghanistan along the Gangetic belt of India upto Sadiya, including Bangladesh. Due to indiscriminate killing as well as loss of natural habitat, it is now confined only to a few pockets in Assam, North Bengal and in Nepal.

The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is a suitable habitat for the normal propagation of the species. After careful consideration, certain essential steps for its conservation and preservation were forwarded to the Central Government in 1993. The recent floods have submerged 70 per cent of the land area of KNP and is posing a serious threat to the wildlife of the world-famous park.

During the annual deluge, most animal take shelter in the high lands, which are not adequate to accommodate such a heterogeneous assembly of animals. It has been suggested in various quarters that there should be constant monitoring of the soil and water of KNP.

The recent floods caused by the river Dhansiri and the Brahmaputra have inundated a large portion of KNP, as a result of which several animals have been killed.

A survey on the occurrence of intestinal parasites in rhino clearly showed that several species of parasites belonging to the groups of Agigentica paramphistoman and a magua, which are commonly prevalent in domestic animals are found in many wild animals, and the rhinos in particular.

There is a high risk involved in the spread of these parasites causing death of domestic animals, and which may spread in an epidemic form among the wild animals. Flood waters may sometimes spread unknown diseases among the wild animals as well. It is high time to consider the matter seriously.

There should be a constant health monitoring before and during the monsoon, as well as immediately after the flood. Although there are a few platforms within the park, they are not enough to give shelter to all during the devastating deluge.

It has been stated that the diversion of the highland and its inclusion around the existing National Highway with the incorporation of a few surrounding areas like Karbi Anglong, etc., will not only increase its area at least 30 to 40 per cent but will also create a conducive environment for their propagation as well as protection from flood.

Moreover, it may be pertinent to mention here that in spite of the recent floods in KNP, poaching is continuing in different pockets of the park.

Among the poachers, several Nagas and Bodo ultras are involved in poaching of rhinos in Central and Lower Assam, besides the Assamese insurgents who use sophisticated silencer-fitted weapons for killing of rhinos.