Kaziranga partially reopens for tourists after flood havoc
After remaining closed for over four months due to floods, which led to deaths of hundreds of its inhabitants, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam reopened for tourists on Monday.
However, domestic and foreign tourists coming to the UNESCO-declared world heritage site — the largest habitat for endangered one-horned rhinos — won’t be able to visit all parts of the park spread over 430 sq km.
“Roads in several parts, which are used by tourists to go on jeep safaris, are yet to be repaired after damage caused by floods. Hence, we are allowing tourists to visit only certain areas till repairs are completed,” Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said in Kaziranga.
The minister stated that there was pressure from tour operators and the hospitality sector to reopen the park in the beginning of October as there were lots of inquiries from tourists. The park remains closed between May and September due to floods, which submerge large parts of the wildlife sanctuary and force most animals to move to higher grounds outside the park for safety.
GUWAHATI:
This year, over 300 animals, including 31 rhinos, died in the floods. The national park is home to over 2,400 rhinos, which are also targeted by poachers for their prized horns.
While floods cause deaths and damage, the annual cycle is necessary to regenerate the grasslands essential for animals like rhinos, elephants and wild buffaloes, and fill up the 400 water bodies located inside the park.
“As repair works of roads are continuing, jeep safaris will be allowed only in Kohora and Bagori ranges of the park while elephant safaris will take place only at Kohora for the time being,” said Satyendra Singh, director of the park.
Besides deaths of rhinos, the park was in news last month after forest guards, attacked by an adult male rhino, fired at it in selfdefence. The rhino died later.