Poachers Strike In Kaziranga National Park, First Rhino Killed In Over 13 Months

While the entire country is in lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 there is some bad news for critically endangered wildlife.The carcass of a rhino was reportedly recovered on Saturday near Doramari Beel in the forest under the Agoratoli range in the Kaziranga national park in Assam.?

Rohit Choudhury

The horn of the rhino was missing when the carcass, which is believed to be two to three days old was discovered by a patrol team.This is the first time in over 13 months a rhino has been killed inside Kaziranga by poachers. Eight rounds of live ammunition from an AK 47 rifle were also reportedly recovered from the area next to the bank of Doramari Beel where the carcass was found.

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According to forest officials, this could be the work of some local militant groups which have access to such sophisticated weapons.Though Kaziranga, like all other national parks, has been closed for visitors, the forest officers have been guarding the region with vigil and had thwarted several attempts by poachers in recent times.?

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Wildlife activist Rohit Choudhury said the forest officials did their best to keep poachers away in the last 13 months."Since the past 13 months, there have been no poaching incidents in Kaziranga. This doesn't mean that there are no poachers. There have been regular poaching attempts and in the last six months around 80 poachers were arrested and arms were recovered," he said.?

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This also comes at a time when authorities in Kaziranga National Park are trying to prevent the spread of the African Swine Fever which is killing domestic pigs across the state.?

Authorities fear that pigs intruding into the national park's boundaries could spread the infection to the wild boars.Kaziranga is home to the highest number of one-horned rhinos, which is an endangered species.Due to the constant vigil, the Kaziranga officials ave managed to keep the poaching numbers low in recent years. In 2019, just three poaching cases were reported inside Kaziranga National Park.