Guwahati, July 9 – Severe flooding has wreaked havoc in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, resulting in the deaths of more than 130 wild animals, including six rare one-horned rhinoceroses. The devastating floods have claimed the lives of numerous animals, with 117 hog deer and two sambar deer among the casualties.

Many of the animals perished by drowning as floodwaters inundated the park. This tragedy echoes the catastrophic floods of 2017, which killed more than 350 animals in Kaziranga. This year, officials have managed to rescue 97 animals from the floodwaters, with 25 currently receiving treatment and 52 released after recovery.

Kaziranga National Park is renowned for housing the world's largest population of one-horned rhinos, with over 2,400 individuals. The park is also home to tigers, elephants, wild water buffaloes, and various bird species. The endangered South Asian river dolphins are also found in the park's rivers.

Last week, an 18-month-old rhino calf was rescued from a village house near the park, underscoring the extensive flooding that has affected large parts of the park and surrounding villages. The heavy rains have damaged roads and infrastructure, destroyed crops, and killed livestock.

Officials have warned of more rain in the coming days as the Brahmaputra River continues to rise. In response to the ongoing flooding, hundreds of relief camps have been established across Assam to provide shelter and aid to affected residents.

The impact of the floods on Kaziranga's wildlife and infrastructure highlights the urgent need for robust flood management and conservation efforts to protect this critical habitat and its inhabitants.