Two rhinos drown in Kaziranga

GUWAHATI: Two rhino calves drowned as an overflowing Brahmaputra inundated a large part of Assam���s Kaziranga national park, the last refuge of one-horned rhinoceros.

According to park officials, three-fourths of the 869-sq km Kaziranga was flooded on Monday after incessant rains since last week, triggering migration of animals to elevated grounds on its southern boundary.

Park director Suren Buragohain said animals have started moving toward NH-37 on the southern boundary after the water level rose significantly in the last two days.

Since the last two days, rhinos have started shifting toward elevated grounds near Pahar-line and Hatidandi forest camp areas of the park. Four rhinos have also moved to higher ground under Golaghat forest division. Park officials said if the flood persists, the rhinos might cross over to the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district to escape drowning.

The park director said guards from other forest divisions of Assam have been roped in to assist staff of Kaziranga in preventing animals straying into human settlements during the floods. Checkposts were also erected along NH-37 to prevent animals from being hit by speeding vehicles while crossing the road for higher grounds in Karbi Anglong.

������At present more than 30 forest staff from other divisions have been manning the boundaries of the park so that strayed animals are not targeted by poachers,������ said Buragohain. During the floods rhinos are vulnerable to poaching. Last year two rhinos were killed by poachers after straying out of the park. ������We are vigilant this time,������ he said.