Strong Measurements Needed to Ensure Safety of Kaziranga's Wildlife During Monsoon Floods

Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya checking the flood situation in Kaziranga National Park. 

India's Kaziranga National Park lies in the vicinity of the mighty Brahmaputra River. Every year, the national park receives an annual downpour of monsoon rains which in turn leads to massive flooding from the river. As a result, several animals are forced to move to higher ground for safety. However, the movement is also met with dire consequences in the form of vehicular accidents. This was the case recently when about seven hog deer were killed and another injured by vehicles along the NH-37, while they were moving to higher ground to avoid the monsoon floods. The deer and other animals are known to often cross the highway that passes through Kaziranga for refuge on the neighboring hills of Karbi Anglong district. Since June 28, 662 vehicles had been found disregarding the 40-km speed limit while taking the stretch of that highway which joins upper Assam with the rest of India. So far, seven vehicles have been fined for violating the speed limit which is enforced during the floods to investigate the deaths of animals along the stretch. In addition to vehicular accidents, animals are also vulnerable to poaching during the monsoon floods. According to park director P. Sivakumar, two people, Biswajit Baruah and Akaman Lora Borah, were arrested on Wednesday in Biswanath district for poaching hog deer. The two men were captured while cooking deer meat at their farm near a river. Authorities also recovered three pieces of fresh deer skin after arresting them.

Hog deer

I have a strong feeling that intensive measurements need to be undertaken to ensure the protection of Kaziranga's wildlife regardless of weather conditions. Even though monsoon floods spell disaster for both people and wildlife, it does not deter poachers from targeting the animals. Poachers are known to recognize the routes used by animals when seeking shelter on higher ground. I think in order to ensure protection of wildlife, forest camps should be established in the vicinity of routes used by animals to escape the floods. In addition, patrols should be carried out in order to keep a look out for poachers and catch them hopefully before any animal is killed. There should also be a strict policy regarding vehicular accidents in which the animals, including endangered species, are killed. Hog deer are one of such endangered animals that fall victim to such incidents. Should drivers end up hitting and killing any of the endangered species, they should not only be fined but also held accountable for their deaths.

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