Assam plans solar fencing at Kaziranga National Park to protect wildlife

Assam government today said it plans to give solar fencing in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) to protect the wildlife from poachers. "We want to give solar fencing to protect the wildlife. We are planning to dig the land through MGNREGA scheme and then the Forest department will do the solar fencing," Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said at an event to celebrate the wildlife week.

Hussain also said the Forest department is planning to translocate some deers from KNP to Manas National Park in the state. "Our deer population in Kaziranga has increased up to 1,169. This is a big success. Now we want to translocate some to Manas," he informed.

He also said the population of rhinos has gone up in recent times and reached to 2,505 at present. "Similarly, the number of tigers, which was at 70 in 2006, currently stands at 143," Hussain said.

Talking about modernisation of the forest guards, he said the Central government has accepted the state's request to procure AK-series rifles for the force.