Flooding has made it extremely difficult for the wildlife population to survive. Often regarded as a severe impediment in Kaziranga National Park, each year a group of these habitats is stuck outside of their homes, unsure of where to go. The number of vulnerable eastern swamp deer in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has declined to 868 from 907 in 2018, according to the ‘Eastern Swamp Deer Estimation 2022.’
An estimation which was carried out on 10th and 11th January revealed the presence of 173 males, 557 females, and 138 yearlings. An official statement issued on Tuesday, January stated, “There is a slight decrease in population in comparison to 907 counted in 2018. This is mainly due to two high floods.”
It is worthy to note that this is for the first time, estimation of the eastern swamp deer was carried out in the entire Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
Using the point count method, the ‘Wetland Bird Estimation 2021-2022’ counted 66,776 birds of 126 species across the entire Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Out of this, the Kaziranga National Park area had 42,205 birds, while the Laokhowa and Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries had 24,571 birds.
On the other hand, the number of bar-headed geese led the list with 16,552 birds, followed by Northern Pintail (9,493) and Common Teal (5,631). There were also 2,236 Ferruginous Ducks found.
