How the Floods In Assam Took A Toll on the Well-Being of The Wildlife

There is no fury like the nature’s fury? Ever heard that one before? If not, then look at Assam. Floods are an impediment in the normal course of nature. But when it comes to the eastern state of the country, then it appears, they have become more of a normal scenario. Not for the first time have there been floods in Assam. The situation is so dire that at this very moment in time, the government has issued a warning to all the locals.

It is not a great idea to visit the banks the Brahmaputra, among the worst-affected aspects of the state in entirety. In fact, by tomorrow evening the level of the water in one of India’s deepest rivers is going to rise by 16 cm.

But no tale about the floods in Assam can be rendered complete without understanding the havoc that nature’s wrecked for the wildlife.

Do you have a clear idea about the most disenchanting piece of news in that regard? Well, truth is, among the other wild animals that are so intrinsic of the Indian wildlife habitat, the famous one-horned rhinoceros is also a beast that the tourist visits the country to see, each year, from around the world.

A country that is home to some of the most wondrous and sprawling ancient monuments and historic relics, such as the Qutub Minar is also a lush-green habitat to the one animal that is increasingly being marginalized in terms of safety and its own survival.

It’s the rhinoceros. And turns out, as a result of the floods in Assam, no fewer than nine rhinoceros’ have lost their lives. Such a terrible and cruel piece of news- isn’t it? But contrary to what many may think, it’s not that the overall population of the rhinoceros is thriving in India.

According to the last national survey, no more than 3,500 rhinos are currently in various parts of the country, though the eastern belt being the dominant habitat of this magnificent creature.

But regardless of what one might feel or project, cantankerous occurrences such as the floods in Assam can only pose an unsparing threat to the animal. In fact, truth be told, it’s not only the rhinoceros that faced the wrath of the nature; there were at least, 100 other animals that perished in the recent floods in Assam.

A recent report published in The Hindustan Times also put forth a telling statistic:

According to a bulletin issued by park authorities on Sunday, nearly 85% area of the park, spread over 430 sq km is under water at present. Forty three of the 223 forest camps inside the park are inundated of which 6 have been vacated.

Till now, 60 animals (36 hog deer, eight rhinos, three wild buffalo, one python, seven wild boar, two swamp deer, one Sambar and two porcupines) have died due to drowning. Fifteen hog deer have died after getting hit by vehicles on national highway 37 close to the park, while trying to cross it to escape flood waters.

Suggested Read: Heavy First Rain In Delhi Slows Life Down

Let’s just hope that in the days to come, there aren’t such boisterous and irreversible natural phenomenon that put at risk, not just human life but attack wild animals too.