Even after over 90 per cent of the area was inundated during the current spate of flood, not a single case of casualty of any animal has been reported from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.
The efforts of the Forest Department personnel as well as local people have drawn appreciation from state Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, who inspected the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on July 22.
The minister chaired a review meeting with the officials, including the Divisional Forest Officer and the Range Officer of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, to take stock of the situation of animals of the sanctuary, especially the one-horned rhinos.
Lauding their efforts, Suklabaidya said, “The management personnel have done an impressive task to keep the number of animal casualties to zero this time.”
“The zero animal casualties this time in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is the reflection of the tremendous effort and dedication put up by the officials and the task force and other voluntary organisations,” he said, making special mention of the Assam Forest Protection Force.
Meanwhile, 187 animals have died in the current floods in Kaziranga National Park of the state in last 10 days. Of these, 16 died after being hit by vehicles and 155 due to drowning.
Among the animals that drowned during this spate of floods are 103 hog deer, 15 rhinos and one elephant.
More than 90 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park was flooded last week, with water level on a receding trend now.
