Life back to normal at Kaziranga

Mahan, the resident calf, playing with the new calf at CWRC

Bokakhat, August 5, 2003 : After weeks of heavy rains and floods at the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), the situation is returning to normal with reports of an occasional drizzle, usual clear skies and no animal rescues. However, as the monsoons have not ended, the park still remains
on alert and patrolling continues along the national highway and migration corridors.

"It is all normal now. There has been infrequent, light rain for the last week or so. The water logging too has cleared up except for some area in the western range that is still under water. Though there has hardly been any migration of animals, we shall continue to monitor till September end because there can be a fresh wave of rain," KNP director, N.K Vasu, said.

According to Park officials, the total road accident casualties reached fourteen during this flood. Of these, there were twelve hog deer, a python and a fishing cat. Eleven animals are suspected to have drowned. These include three hog deer, two sambhars, three wild buffalos, two wild boars and a porcupine.

Meanwhile, there have been no recent rescue cases at the Centre for Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation (CWRC). Earlier, when the river Brahmaputra crossed the danger mark and flooded the Park, the CWRC staff and their volunteers had been on full alert. The CWRC is a joint venture of the Assam forest department, the Wildlife Trust of India and its partner IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and was created as a rescue facility for the animals of the region especially during the floods.

The elephant calf, a new arrival ,with its keeper at CWRC

The flood is an annual phenomenon, that sustains the grasslands of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), however, has not caused as much havoc this year as it was capable of. "In 1988 and 1998 we suffered so many casualties because the embankments broke and the water came in a surge. This year, with the help of other departments, we ensured that the bunds and embankments held, which is why even though the water levels are higher than those recorded earlier we are still better off," Park D irector, N.K. Vasu said. However, he added that, "we still have August and September to go."

As the Brahmaputra floods annually, the animals move to the hills of the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district for safety. However, this corridor is bisected by a national highway and speeding vehicles annually kill a large number of animals. Last year, a pregnant tigress was found lying in a pool of blood in a hit and run case. In 1988, as many as 1000 animals
dies, while ten years later 652 animals, including 40 rhinos were recorded dead.

The 430 square kilometre Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site and home to approximately 1500 of the estimated total population of 2000 Greater one-horned rhinos (rhinoceros unicornis), besides many other species of mammals and birds.