Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar announced here on Saturday that a Special Rhino Protection Force of local youth would be raised to check poaching in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and other rhino-populated areas in Assam.“There will be zero tolerance towards rhino poaching and our efforts would be to bring down the number of rhino poaching incidents to zero,” he said.

Addressing a press conference after two-day visit to the national park, the Minister announced that his Ministry would request the CBI to expand the scope of its ongoing probe into rhino poaching in the KNP by including more cases and fast-track it. Poachers have killed 22 rhinos since the beginning of this year.

A comprehensive plan would be undertaken to ensure free movement of park animals through the six animal corridors across the National Highway 37 passing through the world heritage site.

Describing his maiden visit to the KNP as “Mission Kaziranga,” the Union Minister announced that a health insurance scheme would be launched for the forest guards of the national park.