Poachers chop off the horn from a live Rhino in Kaziranga, amidst flood chaos

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In a gruesome incident on Wednesday, poachers have sawed away the horn of an Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at the Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam, even while the animal was alive. 

The female rhino has strayed into the east division of the Karbi Anglong hills in neighboring district to evade the raising flood waters in the park and was shot down by the poachers on Wednesday morning, said forest officials. 

An Indian one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis 

According to them, by the time they found it, the horn and a part of the right ear of the animals was brutally chopped off, while it was alive. Now, veterinary doctors are trying hard to save the Rhino, they said. Officials have also found another dead rhino with chopped away horns on Wednesday, according to a PTI report.

The incident has sparked wide protest in the state. Locals including members of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and All Assam Students Union have blockaded the National Highway 37 to protest the attack. According to forest officials in the park, 13 rhinos were killed by poachers since January this year. The park is home to around 2500 of the only remaining 3000 one horned rhinoceros on the globe, which are categorized as Vulnerable by IUCN.

Three fourth of the park submerged

Meanwhile, the third wave of flood has so far killed 22 animals in the park, which includes 4 rhinos, apart from those killed by the poachers. 75 percent of the national park in submerged under the flood waters from incessant rains. Apart from the deaths from drowning, road kills also increase during the flood season in Kazirnaga as animals try to cross the NH 37 to evade flood waters. At least four animals were killed so far by speeding vehicles after the current wave of floods hit the park, informed DFO.

Earlier waves of flood at Kaziranga have killed 631 animals including 19 rhinos in August, while 36 animals were victims to road kill during the period.

631 animals including 19 Rhinos killed in Kaziranga National Park due to floods, says MoEF

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According to the latest information from the Ministry of Environmentand Forests in India, two more rhinos have died at the Kaziranga National Park due to the recurring floods, since the ministry assessed the animal death toll last month. Earlier the ministry has issued an official assessment on the flood situation of the protected area, reporting that the Rhino death toll in Kaziranga was at 17. Now it has reached 19, says an official replay from the ministry.

An Indian one horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis

The new revelation came out when Minister for Environment and Forests, Jaynati Natarajan tabled a written reply to the Rajya Sabha as an answer to a question on the flood situation of Kaziranga National Park. According to the reply, the total animal death toll in the park has now reached 631. In last month, a MoEF press release had informed that the animal death toll at the park due to floods was 595.

The tabled replay has also informed the House that the excess water has swept away infrastructure inside the park area like roads, artificial grounds and anti-poaching facilities.

The latest estimate of the animal deaths due to floods in Kaziranga 

Sl. No.	Species	Total
1.	Rhino	19
2.	Elephant	1
3.	Swamp deer	11
4.	Buffallo	4
5.	Hog deer	529
6.	Sambar	22
7.	Wild boar	34
8.	Porcupine	5
9.	Hog badger	3
10.	Python	2
11.	Fox	1
	TOTAL	631

                                                                                                                                                      Source: Rajya Sabha

Floods part of Kaziranga ecosystem

As per MoEF documents, the floods are a normal part of the ecosystem of Kaziranga National Park. “Being located in the Brahmaputra Flood Plains, the reserve is prone to annual floods.  However, the normal flood inundation is inherent and important aspect of the Kaziranga ecosystem to maintain the large number of water bodies (around 175) and the floral/faunal biodiversity of the area”, says an earlier official document on the flood situation of the national park.

A Map of Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India
Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan has reiterated this stand again in the latest reports. According to the replay, she said that flood is a natural and recurring phenomenon in Kaziranga and it creates a variety of habitats for different species.

However, this year, the floods were stronger. According to the latest reply from MoEF, similar floods have inundated Kaziranga in 1988 and 1998. The floods claimed 1203 and 652 animal lives in both the years respectively.