KOHORA, July 29 - The number of casualties of wild animals has been rising even as the flood inside the Kaziranga National Park has been receding. As of now, six full-grown rhinos and a calf have been reported dead due to drowning, according to Forest Department sources at the Kaziranga National Park. Besides, about 50 deer have perished in the flood, while nine others had accidental death while crossing the national highway for shelter on the foothills of Karbi Anglong situated on the southern side of the park.
According to Dr Rathin Barman, chief functionary of the wildlife rescue centre under the Wildlife Trust of India at Borjuri, about 95 wild animals, including 79 deer and eight rhino calves, have been rescued from different locations of Kaziranga after the flood.
Several wildlife NGOs, including NRSB, Kaziranga, have been rescuing wild animals in distress since the last ten days. The NRSB team has been searching for marooned wild animals in many flood-affected areas of Kaziranga at places like Kanchanjuri, Hatikhuli, Kohora, Rangajan, etc..
Meanwhile, a full-grown rhino, which got injured after a bullet was fired by a Forest guard in self-defence, was administered antibiotics by veterinary experts at the Jagadamba TE. Sources said that the rhino had to be tranquillized so that it could be given proper treatment.
