Assam: Female rhino, calf poached in Kaziranga park

The carcass was found in Siga Forest Camp under Agoratoli Range, Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer Sivashish Das said.

He added that the animals were rescued using boats, some manually and some with the help of tranquilisers.

Kaziranga National Park is home to 35 species of mammals and has 2400 one-horned rhinoceros, 20,000 hog deer, 100 tigers, 1000 elephants, 1500 wild buffaloes, 1000 swarm dear.

The 10 baby rhinos were aged between two and six months. The creation of the force hopefully will be able to tackle the menace of poaching, and ensure the much needed protection for rhinos.

Not just rhinos, other animals to have not been spared by the monsoon.

So far, 13 rhinos have died due to drowning in the current wave of floods which have so far also claimed lives of 15 hog deer, two wild boars and two snakes, park officials said.

Additionally, 152 hog deers too were washed away in the deluge and another 12 were killed by speeding vehicles at the national highway, causing the park authorities to issue time cards to vehicles travelling on the road.

There are 16 animal corridors on the NH-37 through which various types of animals from the park cross over to Karbi Anglong hill during floods, officials said.

Das along with a team of Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) has been spending sleepless nights to save the Kaziranga animals.

“Our veterinarians and animal keepers have been working round the clock to ensure that rescued animals get the required treatment and care”, said Panjit Basumatary, lead veterinarian at the centre.

Eighty per cent of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is under flood waters. “They are now responding well”, Basumatary said.

“Normally the poachers take advantage of floods and kill rhinos”.