Rhino killed in Kaziranga National Park by poachers

In an unabated killing of rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park, a female adult rhino was gunned down and its horn taken away by poachers taking the toll to 11 this year at the World Heritage Site. Park personnel had heard gun shots late night and recovered the carcass of the rhino from near Bonoloni Camp in Bagori Range of the park during an operation today, Forest department officials said.

The horn was sawn off and taken away by the poachers after gunning down the animal, the officials said. The carcass was recovered near river Brahmaputra and the poachers were suspected to have come from across Biswanath Chariali side on the north bank of the river, they said.

On Friday, a male adult rhino was killed and its horn taken away by poachers from near Arikati camp, under Agaratoli Range of the park close on the heels of the killing of another rhino on April 30 near Borgung Camp of Burapahar Range.

Earlier on March 19, another rhino was killed and its horn taken away by poachers near Louduli camp, under Kohora Range of the 430-square kilometre Kaziranga National Park.