News Shorts from the Wild

8 July 2019 – 14 July 2019

Assam Floods Submerge 90% of Kaziranga National Park

The water level in Kaziranga National Park has increased and over 70 percent to 90 percent of the park is under water following the incessant rainfall in Assam. The government had deployed special rhino protection force this year as these animals were vulnerable to poaching during the flood.

A hog deer fleeing the floodwaters of Kaziranga was killed by a speeding vehicle on the National Highway-37 (NH-37) — which cuts across KNP. “Animals like deer and elephants try to move to highlands — mostly the hilltops of Karbi Anglong. Sometimes they take refuge in artificial highlands that have been created within the Park,” said KNP director, P Sivakumar, confirming the death of the hog deer earlier in the morning in the Bagori Range. “Six more hog deer have been rescued and released in the highland,” he said.

Read more at Indian Express, Image via Firstpost

Also Read: In photos, Animals battling Assam Floods

India’s First Dolphin Research Centre to Come up Soon In Patna

The foundation stone of India’s first dolphin research centre will be laid in Patna on October 5, after an eight-year delay since it was first mooted. The endangered Gangetic river dolphins is found along nearly 1,000 km stretch of the Ganga and its two major tributaries, Gandak and Ghaghra. More than 1,500 dolphins were spotted by three teams of experts and scientists who undertook the exercise of enumeration of the species earlier this year. Gangetic river dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal but frequently falls prey to poachers and sometimes killed without intention after being trapped in fish net and hit by machines. Poachers kill them for their flesh, fat and oil.

Read more at Outlook, Image via Mongabay

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh Sees a Rise in Gangetic River Dolphins

Leopard Chewing on Plastic Near Corbett National Park

An image of a leopard chewing on plastic bag went viral last week. It was shot in Corbett National Park where plastic was banned 3 years ago. Conservator of Forest (western circle) Madhukar Dhakate had shared the picture on social media and said that nothing of this sort had ever come to their notice earlier in this forested area. Only goes to show the extent of damage humans are doing to the environment.

Read more at TOI, Image via Lalit Mohan

Also Read: Leopard Cub Rescued in Karnataka

3 Elephants Electrocuted in West Bengal

Three elephants were found dead last Wednesday morning in Jhargram in West Bengal when a herd of 22 were crossing the state to go towards Jharkhand. The elephants were electrocuted when they came in contact with a high tension wire that was hanging loose and low. Locals of the area say that they had complained about the wire to the authorities but nothing had been done.

Also Read: Railways Asked to Slow Down to Stop Elephant Deaths in Kerala

India’s First Animal Law Post Graduation Diploma Course Launched

The Animal Law Centre at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad in collaboration with the Humane Society International/ India has launched what it claims to be India’s first academic course on animal protection laws. The one-year PG diploma course will be imparted in distance-learning mode with a few contact classes every semester.

The course is aimed to deliver a strong foundation of animal protection to government officials, animal protection advocates, students from all fields and anyone with an interest in the field of animal protection. The curriculum will consist of topics including challenges faced on the ground, with respect to cruelty towards animals, policy development and research as well as litigation in ancillary matters regarding animals.

Read More at Indian Express, Image via Clic Abroad