Guwahati : Another one horned rhino was killed in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Sunday night, officials said on Monday.
Poachers managed to flee with the horn after killing the rhino.
The incident took place in between Janata forest camp and Borhola forest camp under Burhapahar range office inside the park.
“The forest guards found the bullet injured and dehorned carcass of a male rhino on Monday morning and found two empty bullets near the carcass,” an official of KNP said.
“We were informed that a poacher group had taken shelter near the park and forest guards launched an operation against the poachers in suspicious places, but they killed the rhino,” the KNP official said.
Security forces launched an operation at Karbi hills against the poachers.
Kaziranga has lost 38 one horned rhinos this year so far, all to poachers.
Wildlife Lovers Protest the Losses
Several organizations and wildlife lovers protested against the killing of the big animals in the park and demanded more protection for wild animals.
“The Assam state forest department failed to protect wild animals in the state. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and state forest minister Rockybul Hussain had announced plans to protect wild animals, but all the plans have failed,” Pranjal Kumar Nath, a Guwahati based journalist and wildlife lover said.