Over 540 animals, including 13 rhinos, have perished in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam during the current wave of floods, perhaps the worst-ever to hit the Park in recent history.

Hog deer are the worst hit with 465 of them succumbing to the flood waters, which have inundated nearly 80 per cent of the Park’s area.

According to the latest official update, the other casualties include 10 swamp deer, 28 wild boars, five porcupine, 16 sambars and two each of python, wild buffalo and hog badgers.

The death toll was expected to rise further with the water level receding in the UNESCO World Heritage site and more carcasses are being recovered daily, Park Director, Mr Sanjib Bora said on Friday .

Speeding vehicles also claimed the lives of about 25 hog deer while two rhinos were killed by poachers.

The Golaghat district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC along NH—37, which passes through the Park and barricades have been set up at regular intervals to prevent speeding, Golaghat Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sanjiv Gohain Boruah said.

Time cards, restricting speed limit to 40 km per hour and time limit of 65 minutes to cross the corridor, has also been introduced to protect migrating animals who move to higher grounds in the neighbouring hill district of Karbi Anglong by crossing the corridor.

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