GUWAHATI, Aug 8 – As many as 193 one-horned rhinos have fallen victim to poaching in the State since 2001.
In a written reply to the Legislative Assembly today, Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that during the period from 2001 to August 3, 2014, a total of 126 rhinos have been killed by poachers in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), followed by 31 in Orang National Park, 14 in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, seven in Manas and 15 in other divisions.
The highest number of incidents took place in 2013 when 41 rhinos were poached, including 27 at KNP, five in Manas, three in Orang, two in Pobitora and four in other divisions.
In 2014 so far, 22 rhinos have been killed by poachers. Of them, 21 were in KNP and one at Pobitora.
Hussain said as a part of anti-poaching initiative, the government has formed an Anti Rhino Poaching Task Force and also provided sophisticated weapons to the forest personnel.
Laws have also been made stricter and work has started to divide KNP into four separate divisions.
The State government has also approached the Centre to use unmanned aerial vehicles, besides putting into use night-vision equipment as part of the anti-poaching measures.
Besides, elevated zones have been created at the parks so that rhinos do not fall victim to poachers during floods and at places electronic fences have been erected, he added.
During this period, altogether 30 persons have lost their lives due to attacks by wild elephants. The minister said next of kin of those who died before March 6, 2010, were provided interim relief of Rs 40,000, which has since been enhanced to Rs 1 lakh.
In reply to another question, Hussain said six tigers, 75 rhinos and 56 elephants have died at the national parks and protected forest areas of Assam in 2013 on account of natural reasons, while in 2014 so far five tigers, 45 rhinos and 27 elephants have died due to such reasons.
In KNP, 68 poachers were nabbed on charges of being involved in killing of rhinos in 2013 and so far in 2014, 22 others have been arrested.
In 2013, five poachers were gunned down, while 13 have been killed during the first seven months of 2014.
