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One more rhino killed in Assam
Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 25th September, 2007 (IANS)
One more one-horned rhinoceros was killed at the Agaratoli range of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, officials said Tuesday.
'The body was found Monday near the Dhoba anti-poaching camp in the eastern part of the park. The poachers had cut its horn before escaping,' S.N. Buragohain, director of the park told IANS.
Poachers misled a patrolling team stationed nearby and killed the animal before escaping with the prized horns.
'The guards heard some gunshots near the Mohpora and Turrani anti-poaching camps at about 11 a.m. But when the patrol team focused its attention towards the area, poachers hit on the opposite direction, near the Dhoba camp, about 2-3 km away,' Buragohain said.
With this incident, the total number of rhinoceros poached this year has risen to 14 including 11 inside the park. 'The last rhinoceros that was killed inside the park was during May-June.' Buragohain added.
Meanwhile, the forest department has lodged a first information report (FIR) at the Bokakhat police station.
Last week, a female rhinoceros was killed outside the park. But prompt action by the forest guards thwarted the attempt by poachers to take out its horn. A calf of the rhino was later rescued and brought to Wildlife Trust of India's (WTI) Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga for care.
'In 1999 census, 1,552 rhinoceros were counted in the park, which increased to 1,855 in the last count in March this year. About 100 more may be roaming in the park and in the adjoining areas, which were not sighted,' said M.C. Malakar, Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam.
'Since 1998, poaching cases were limited to single digit in Kaziranga but only this year it has risen to double digits. In the last three years, there has been an increase of 303 rhinoceros in the park.' Malakar said.
'So far, 17 rhinoceros have been killed this year, including in areas which are outside Kaziranga. The enforcement in the park needs to be revamped, if we have to stop the killings,' said Ashok Kumar, Vice Chairman of WTI.
Kaziranga is the only place in the world today, where a majority of the rhinos live. Some rhinoceros are also found at the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
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