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Assam flood wildlife toll 595; green ministry to send team
The environment ministry will send a team to Assam to review relief and rescue measures for wildlife even as animal deaths rose to 595.
The environment ministry will send a team to Assam to review relief and rescue measures for wildlife even as animal deaths rose to 595.
A report submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has revealed that of the 17 rhinos reported deaths, three have been poached. "Most of the rhino deaths were from the older age group, besides calves," the report by NTCA member M Firoz Ahmed has revealed.
The ministry after reviewing the impact of floods on wildlife in Kaziranga National Park, Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary and Loakhowa Wildlife Sanctuary said a team led by NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal will visit the wildlife areas to strengthen the measures to protect the animals from flash floods.
The ministry said during normal floods, which is a regular feature; there is less mortality of wild animals. However, flash floods occur due to breaches in the upper areas of Brahmaputra, which result in increased death of wild animals. “During 1998, a similar flood occurred in Kaziranga resulting in a large number of wild animals’ deaths,” a statement issued by the ministry said.
Of the 595 killed, around 512 were hog deer who failed to navigate high speed of water. However, lesser casualty of bigger animals such as elephants and rhinos were reported.
