Forest official of the Manas National Park in Assam said that a carcass of a male adult rhino was recovered from the Basbari forest range of the national park on Monday and added that the poachers have taken the horns of the animal.

It may be mentioned that forest officials have recovered two carcasses of one-horned rhinos — one each at Morigaon and in Sonitpur district of Assam last Friday. The suspected poachers had taken away the horns of both the rhinos.

“I am informed that the carcass of a male adult rhino was recovered from Basbari range of Manas National Park on Monday. It seems to be a case of poaching and we have ordered an inquiry into the incident,” said S Chand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) of Assam on Monday.

He also informed that the killed rhino was trans-located to Manas from Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008 as part of the Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 project that started with the goal of increasing the rhino population in Assam to 3,000 by the year 2020.

A senior official of the national park, on condition of anonymity, said that the animal was killed by AK series rifle —which indicates a probable involvement of militant outfits in the poaching.

“The bullet used to kill the rhino was that of AK series rifle. AK series rifles are used by militants in the region and not by poachers,” said the officer while expressing his concern due to the involvement of militants in rhino poaching.

“The involvement of militants was proved during the series of rhino killings in and around Kaziranga National Park last year. However, if the militants are targeting the rhinos in Manas, it’s a mater of concern,” he said.

Manas National Park, located about 170 km away from Assam Capital Dispur, was first declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 by the Unesco. The international body, however, declared it as a World Heritage Site in Danger in 1992 due to rampant poaching and terrorist activities.