GOLAGHAT, May 20 – The traditional trade routes via Kolkata and Myanmar are being forsaken by the rhino poachers for new routes through Bhutan, Nepal and more recently Bangladesh, and the repeated involvement of high-ranking nationals of some of these countries in the trade have made the issue even more complicated, and more threatening for rhinocerous conservationists.

Reliable sources in the state forest department disclosed that evidence of the horns reaching the far eastern markets of Taiwan, South Korea etc. which were destined for the traditional Chinese medicines, trade in these countries. Despite commendable efforts made by several east Asian countries to curtail the trade made by imposing to stiff penalties, demand for rhinocerous horn in the Asian traditional medicine market is alarmingly increasing. Sources said that poachers are using novel methods such as electro cutting the rhinos several factors like unabated flow of arms to Assam from across the border political unrest and natural calamities like flood and helping the poachers more easily. The spurt in rhinocerous poaching has a definite connection with increase in political unrest.