Tiger takes shelter in goat’s shed in Assam’s Kaziranga National park after it gets flooded
By Purvi Jain
The situation caused in Assam due to the floods is not only affecting humans but animals as well.
With 95% of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger reserve which is spread over 430 square kilometer has been submerged due to heavy rainfalls causing animals to leave the sanctuary and have shelter in a higher location.
As per the Assam Disaster Management Authority (ADMA), the situation has worsened, even more, affecting more than 2,100,000 people in 27 states of 33 districts.
Due to the drowning six more deaths were being reported on Monday taking the total count to 50. Over 60,000 people were uprooted who are taking shelter in 480 relief camps.
On Monday morning, a sub-adult male Tiger came out of the Agratoli range and took shelter in a goat’s shed in Kandolimari village located on the periphery of the world’s largest habitat for one-horned rhinos.
P Sivakumar, Director of the national park informed, “Due to the rise Of water and to find a safe escape a sub-adult Tiger has entered inside a goat shed in Kandolimari village, Agratoli. Utmost care is being taken to ensure the safety of both people and Tiger.”
Photos and a video of Tigers taking shelter in the goat shed as water level rose went viral on social media. Forest officials reached the spot and monitored the situation and have allowed the big cat to rest at the spot without disturbing it.
Later in the afternoon, The Tiger moved out and went back towards the Agratoli range of the park.
Every year, during annual floods, inundate Kaziranga many wild animals of the park leaves it and head towards the nearby hills in Karbi Anglong crossing by National highway 37 which passes near the park’s boundary.
On Monday, authorities have closed a section of NH 37 between Kohora and the Bagori range of Kaziranga National park due to inundation. Vehicles to use different routes until further notice.
This season, nine Animals including wild boar, swamp deer, and hog deer died because of drowning and 11 hog deer died by vehicle hit. 12 died during the treatment.
35 deer were injured and one by vehicle hit. Last month, the carcass of a rhino was found which died of natural cause.
Out of 223 camps used by the forest personnel to patrol the park, 116 have been inundated and seven has been made vacant due to the rising water level.