Guwahati, Sep 22 (IANS) Anticipating a second wave of floods to hit Kaziranga National Park after incessant rains over the last week, authorities Saturday put on high alert all wildlife rescue teams of the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC).
Rains over the past week have caused water levels to rise above the danger levels in many parts of Assam. A total of 13 districts have been affected by the current wave of floods, seven of them severely. Over four lakh people have been affected during the current wave of floods across the state and six people have been killed in past one week.
"To contain the park casualty to the barest minimum we are in a state of high alert. We have also set up emergency helplines for all the wildlife ranges in the national park and we appeal to anyone, who comes across distressed wildlife, to call the emergency helplines immediately," officials of the park said.
The rescue team of International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) has also been assisting the Assam Forest Department in providing emergency relief to wild animals during floods.
In June, the IFAW-WTI team saved hundreds of animals during the month-long intense floods inside the national park.
Over 600 animals died during the June floods in the park, which was also stated to be one of the worst floods in recent times. The animal casualty during the floods included 19 one-horned rhinos.
IFAW-WTI has issued an alert among its team members, bringing them to Kaziranga from their various project sites across Assam, the officials said.
"Veterinarians, biologist, sociologist and volunteers from our other projects will and they will be placed in various strategic locations," said Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, principal veterinarian, WTI northeast.
"We have brought in sociologists to help assess the community mindset towards displaced wildlife and generate awareness against poaching," he said.
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