Assam floods: 58 protected animals, including 3 one-horned rhino calves, killed in Kaziranga National Park

Heavy rains and flood have wreaked havoc in Assam. While the incessant rains have killed at least 80 and marooned 15 lakh people, the rare and endangered species of animals are suffering the nature's wrath as well. 

Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which is a safe haven for rare species of rhino apart from other animals, has been inundated by rain-flooded Brahmaputra river, forcing animals to flee to nearby areas. This migration makes animals vulnerable to poaching. 

According to officials, poachers wait for such situations to trap animals when they come out of their habitats to higher grounds for shelters.

The park is home to the largest concentration of the world's remaining one-horned rhinoceros.

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According to national park's director, hog deer, one of the smallest deer species, took the maximum brunt. Asiatic wild buffalo, wild boar, sambar, eastern swamp deer have also fallen prey to the flood.

"Floods in Assam have killed 58 animals inside the park, including three one-horned rhino calves. The park is also home to elephants, Indian hog deer, wild buffalo. Three rhino calves have drowned and up to 45 deer perished in the flood," Satyendra Singh, the park's director told India Today. 

He also added that water level in the Brahmaputra is expected to come down by the end of this week, provided there is no more heavy rain.

Officials have reportedly managed to rescue 108 animals so far, out of which four are undergoing treatment, including a rhino calf.

Officials are keeping a close eye on the movement of animals to guard them against poachers, a report said.