Rhino poacher killed in encounter in Kaziranga

The encounter took place at Nalamukh forest camp area under Bagori range office in the national park.

According to the reports, the forest guards of Nalamukh forest camp had heared three gun shots at the area and immediately launched operation with Assam police personnel.

While the forest guards reached the area, the poachers started firing and forest guards retaliated.

One rhino poacher was killed in the gun battle.

Forest guards had recovered a rhino horn, one gun, several rounds ammunition and other materials from the encounter spot.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Kaziranga National Park Rohini Saikia said that, at least four poachers are still hiding inside the park.

“We have received information that, a poacher gang is trying to enter in the park to kill one horned rhino. Immediately we contacted with Assam police and launched operation,” the DFO said.

“The poacher gang had killed a rhino and we have also recovered its horn, but trying to recover the rhino carcass,” Rohini Saikia said.

The latest report of Rhino Population Estimation, 2018 stated that, total number of rhinos in the world heritage site counted 2,413, which indicated increase of 12 rhinos in the park in past two years.

On the other hand, poachers killed six rhinos in the park this year so far.

In past two years Kaziranga had lost 21 rhinos which were poached inside the park.

Poachers had killed 14 rhinos in 2016 and 7 in 2017.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)