Lok Sabha Question No. 1962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-29
Subject: Kaziranga National Park
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1962

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.12.2017

## Kaziranga National Park

## 1962.  SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Kaziranga National Park suffered massive destruction during the recent devastating floods deluge that claimed the lives of several rhinos and other animals there;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the losses suffered both in terms of physical and fiscal; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to replenish the National Park and bring it back to its earlier glory?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Yes,  Kaziranga  Tiger  Reserve,  Assam  has  lost  a  number  of  animals  during  the  two incidences of recent flood.
- (b) Details of  animal mortality during the two incidences of recent flood as reported by the State, is as follows:
- (c) Steps taken by the Government of Assam to replenish the National Park and bring it back to its earlier glory, inter alia, include construction of 33 new highlands along the southern boundary of  tiger  reserve  for  wild  animals  to  take  refuge  during  flood,  raising  the  height  of  existing highlands, minimizing speed limit of vehicles on National Highway 37 to avoid mortality due to  accident,  ensuring  coordination  among  different  department  and  public  besides  24X7 patrolling.    Government  of  India  has  released  Rs.  1126.27  Lakhs  as  first  installment  to Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger during 2017-18 for various activities which inter alia include activities required to address loss due to flood.

| Species                   | Death due to drowning   | Road accident   | No. of animals died in CWRCwhile on treatment   |   Total |
|---------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------|
| Tiger                     | 1                       | -               | -                                               |       1 |
| Rhino                     | 31                      | -               | -                                               |      31 |
| Elephant                  | 9                       | 1               | -                                               |      10 |
| Swamp deer                | 3                       | -               | 1                                               |       4 |
| Buffalo                   | 8                       | -               | -                                               |       8 |
| Hog deer                  | 282                     | 14              | 22                                              |     318 |
| Sambar                    | 16                      | -               | -                                               |      16 |
| Wild Boar                 | 8                       | -               | -                                               |       8 |
| Porcupine                 | 3                       | -               | -                                               |       3 |
| Leopard Cat               | -                       | 1               | -                                               |       1 |
| Black necked stork (bird) | -                       | -               | 1                                               |       1 |
| Total                     | 361                     | 16              | 24                                              |     401 |