IFAW News Release: IFAW Rescues Wildlife As Floods Hit Northeast India

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Here is the latest IFAW release about our Emergency Relief efforts in India. We are working to rescue and rehabilitate animals displaced by the annual floods.

 

Let me know if you have any questions,

 

Kerry

 

 

Kerry Branon

Communications Coordinator

International Fund for Animal Welfare

75 Attucks Lane

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-744-2068

kbranon

www.ifaw.org

 

 

 

IFAW Rescues Wildlife As Floods Hit Northeast India

 

(Kaziranga, India - 14 July 2004) - IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org) has launched a wildlife rescue operation in northeast India as floods swamped Kaziranga National Park (KNP) - home to approximately 1,500 greater one-horned rhinos. The park, also a World Heritage site, contains 75 percent of world's population of one-horned rhinos.

While annual floods are a regular feature in Kaziranga, this year flash floods have submerged huge tracts of forest land on the east bank of the Pakke River in the north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh displacing people and wildlife.

In addition, rising water of the Brahmaputra River has flooded the 430 square kilometer park leaving only the highland areas safe. A mass exodus of animals crossing over to higher ground at night has exposed them to greater risk of being hit by speeding vehicles on the highway that cuts through the park. Five animals have been killed in road accidents in two days since the floods began.

Anand Ramanathan, IFAW's Emergency Relief Manager, said, "The flooding happens every year at this time of the year and we are prepared with our wildlife rescue and veterinary teams, which have been deployed since late June."

IFAW is working with local groups in the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals displaced by the annual floods. Rescue staff and trained volunteers, including veterinarians, are working 20-hour days to treat the injured and sick animals before releasing them back into the wild. The teams will be in place until the floodwaters recede, anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

The rescue staff is patrolling the highway with the forest department staff to ensure that vehicles do not exceed the upper speed limit. Earlier this week staff saved two hog deer from drowning. A joint Medical-Veterinary camp is being organized to provide health care to animals and people affected by the flash floods.

 

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Founded in 1969, IFAW is an international animal welfare and conservation organization that works to protect wild and domestic animals and to broker solutions that benefit both animals and people. With offices in 15 countries around the world, IFAW works to protect whales, elephants, great apes, big cats, dogs and cats, seals, and other animals. To learn how to help IFAW protect animals, please visit www.ifaw.org.

 

###

 

 

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people.

 

This transmission is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.