Guwahati, February 5: Two days after a high-level committee constituted by the Assam Government recommended setting up of a special task force to tackle rhino-poaching in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park, poachers managed to kill another rhino in the heritage site.
An official in Kaziranga said the rhino, a full-grown male, was gunned down near Haldibari close to National Highway 37 that constitutes the northern boundary of the 900-sq km National Park.
“The rhino was killed by a single shot, and the poachers managed to remove its horn and escape even before guards could reach the spot,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
The incident occurred at around 6 am. Tuesday’s was the fourth rhino to have fallen prey to poachers in the current year and the first since a high-level committee headed by state Forest and Environment Commissioner BB Hagjer recommended setting up a special task force to tackle the poachers’ menace. Altogether 21 rhinos were killed by poachers in Assam during 2007, of which 16 were killed inside Kaziranga National Park.
With poachers continuing to strike at their will, senior forest officials rushed to Kaziranga to take stock of the situation. NGOs working in the field of wildlife conservation have blamed Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain for the increase in rhino-poaching and even demanded his removal.
