Assam Will Form Separate Battalion to Protect Rhinos

For protecting wild animals including one-horned rhinoceros in Assam, the forest guards will be equipped with AK-series rifle soon.

The Assam forest department finalized a plan to provide sophisticated arms to forest guards.

Recently, the state forest department provided more than 200 nos SLR to forest guards in Kaziranga national park to protect wild animals and anti-poaching drive in the park.

“We have taken steps to form a separate battalion of protection force to safeguard the wild animals in the Kaziranga national park,” Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain said.

The state government also decided to establish a new range office in the park.

A total of 42 one-horned rhinoceros have died in the park this year, 15 of which were killed by poachers.

According to the 2012 census report, Kaziranga has 2,186 rhinos out of total population of 2,505 in Assam.

Hemanta Kumar Nath

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.