Rhino killed with AK-47 in Kaziranga National Park during Prince William and Kate's visit

Nearly 30 kilometres away from where Prince William and Kate Middleton were staying, a rhinoceros was killed with AK-47 and its horn taken away by poachers at the Kaziranga National Park on Wednesday night.

The killing took place at 11.10 pm while the royal couple was spending the night at a riverside lodge, adjacent to the national park, said reports.

The carcass of the rhino was recovered from a place under Burhapahar range of the Park.

A male adult rhino was killed and its horn taken away by armed poachers, said KNP Divisional Forest Officer Subhashis Das adding, "88 empty cases of AK-47 cartridges were found from the spot."

A rhino's horn fetches nearly Rs 5 lakh in the local market. At least four Rhino's have been killed this year in Kaziranga and its horn taken away by poachers. Last year 17 rhinos were killed by poachers.

During the visit couple was also informed about forest conservation efforts and anti-poaching measures adopted to reduce the killing of rhinos by poachers.