feral horse
View of a feral horse which was swept away by flood water. Image credit - Northeast Now

Flood waters swept away 3 feral horses in Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, which has been submerged by rising waters of river Brahmaputra, which is flowing near the park.

Sources said three feral horses were swept away at Kobu Chapori in Jonai from Dibru-Saikhowa National Park after the whole park was submerged by flood waters.

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“Laika and Dodhia, the two forest villages of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, are also reeling under flood waters and the people are facing massive trouble. Many of the people were shifted to two relief camps and other safer locations,” said a forest official.

He said, “Every year, flood ravages the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. This year too, the whole park has come under flood waters but till now, no rescue operation has been started.”

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“The wild animals have moved towards the natural highlands and 70% of the 340-sq km park has been inundated by the flood waters from river Brahmaputra,” the forest official said.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of upper Assam.

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It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765 km including a core area of 340 km and a buffer zone of 425 km.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has a good feral horse population and every year during floods, they face problems and move towards other directions.

“Our patrolling team has been ready and keeping a strong vigil during the night to counter any threat of poachers who take advantage during floods,” the forest official added.

 

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]