Due to severe flooding in northeastern India’s Assam, numerous animals are being swept away and drowning, with 56 already rescued as efforts continue to save more wildlife.

The incident took place at Kaziranga National Park, situated in the Golaghat district and the video went viral on July 3.

Visuals showed in Kaziranga National Park, a rhino was trapped in a flood-like situation. Only its head was visible above the water, with its entire body submerged. A short distance away from the flooded area, some police and rescue team members were present. In the flooded area, a man was navigating a boat, searching for stranded animals.

Severe flooding in Kaziranga National Park has led to the drowning of eleven animals, primarily hog deer, while 65 others have been successfully rescued, according to park officials.

The rescued animals include 42 hog deer, two otters, two sambars, and a Scops owl. However, the situation remains dire as 173 out of the 233 forest department camps within the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division have been submerged by floodwaters, an increase from 167 camps the previous day.

The Agoratoli range is particularly affected, with 24 of its 34 camps inundated. In the central range, 51 out of 58 camps are underwater. The Bagori range has seen 37 of its 39 camps flooded, Burapahar has 13 out of 25 camps submerged, and in the Bokakhat range, seven out of nine camps are affected.

Due to the flooding, nine camps have been vacated by forest personnel. These include two in Agoratoli, three in Bokakhat, two in the central range, and one each in the Biswanath and Nagaon wildlife divisions.

Authorities continue their rescue operations, but the situation underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the monsoon season to wildlife conservation efforts in the region.

Experts pointed out that floods are essential for the preservation and rejuvenation of the ecosystem of the Kaziranga National Park as Brahmaputra’s overflow and increase in the level of water not only revitalises the grasslands but the excess water flow also flushes out the aquatic weeds and unwanted plants.