Seventh rhino killed in Kaziranga

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 13: Poachers killed the seventh rhino in Kaziranga tiol Park and took away its horn.

Park officials said that the carcass of the rhino was recovered from Tamulipathar area in Agaratoli range of the park and it is suspected that the animal was killed late on Thursday.

The carcass had bullet injury marks. This is the seventh one-horned rhino killed at the Kaziranga tiol Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, this year. Two others, which strayed out the park, were also killed by poachers this year.

Meanwhile, in response to a query by AGP MLA Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Forest minister Atuwa Munda informed that assembly that 74 rhinos were killed in the tiol park since 2011 (2011- 3, 2012 – 11, 2013- 27, 2014 – 27). Altogether 311 tural rhino deaths were also reported during the period.

In the Second Addition of park, there are 42 pattadars and 491 families settled illegally. In the third Addition and Fifth Additions, there are 114 and 113 pattadars respectively, while 16 families are residing illegally. In the Sixth Addition, there are 376 illegal cattle rearing sheds, the assembly was informed.