(IN): 14th Rhino killed in 2007

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070807/asp/northeast/story_8159621.asp

 

From floods to poachers' pan

 

A STAFF REPORTER

 

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*Guwahati, Aug. 6:* Rhinos are literally jumping from the frying pan into

the fire. The animals that managed to escape the fury of the floods in

Kaziranga National Park have walked right into the trap of poachers.

 

A member of the endangered species died last night, shot by poachers. The

killers took away its horn.

 

A park official today said the full-grown male rhino was killed in West

Bonkowal under Numaligarh forest beat office in Golaghat district, outside

its habitat at Kaziranga National Park.

 

Carcass of another rhino was recovered from the Haldibari area under Kohora

range of the Kaziranga national park this evening. The horn was missing.

 

Sources at the park said the forest guard rushed to Haldibari after he heard

gunshots around 5pm today, only to find the carcass.

 

This is the 14th rhino killed this year.

 

A few months ago, another rhino was shot dead at Bhokte chapori, 2km from

the site where last night's killing took place. While 10 of the rhinos have

been killed inside the park, three — including last night's victim — were

shot dead outside the park's range.

 

Officials had few answers to the sudden rise in rhino poaching but claimed

that the biggest floods in several years were forcing the prehistoric

mammals to step out from the safety of the park in search of safer ground.

 

" Lack of space inside the park and the floods have forced the rhinos to

stray. At least 10 of them have strayed too far, making them vulnerable, "

the official said.

 

The 430-square-km park has a rhino population of more than 2,000. However,

the park official was at a loss to explain how 10 rhinos were killed inside

the park, which celebrated its centenary a couple of years ago with the

tagline: " the century's biggest conservation success story " .

 

The official said two rhinos have made the Panidihing bird sanctuary in

Sivasagar district their home for three months now while two rhinos have

been spotted moving along the Brahmaputra in Jorhat district.

 

Panidihing is about 100km from Kaziranga. " Forest guards are keeping a watch

on these animals but it becomes difficult to guard them all the time since

these are always on the move, " the official said.

 

He said though the park authorities are making efforts to bring back the

animals, the rhinos are in no mood to return. One rhino died a few months

ago after officials tranquillised it in their attempt to bring the animal

back to Kaziranga.

 

The official said the rhinos were moving east — towards Jorhat and Sivasagar

— to avoid human settlements on the west.

 

Uttam Saikia, president of Bhumi, an NGO working for the protection of

Kaziranga animals along with the Wildlife Trust of India, said a study

should be conducted to find out why so many rhinos were deserting the park.

They are now imploring villagers in the fringe areas of the park to help

them protect the animals.

 

 

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