Tranquillising gun seized from poachers

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Tranquillising gun seized from poachers

A STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, Nov. 17: The Assam forest department is bracing for a new

challenge after the seizure of a tranquillising gun by Bokakhat police

from a gang of poachers.

 

Police on Thursday seized the gun along with drugs and arms from the

poachers, who had jettisoned these at Latabari tea estate before fleeing.

 

" The poachers will now find it easier to carry out their activities, " a

senior forest official said.A .22 carbine, an axe, China-made drugs used

for tranquillising, a foot pump, 16 rounds of ammunition and clothes

were also recovered.

 

A park official said investigations were on but did not comment on the

methods used. " The use of a tranquilliser gun could be dangerous as an

incorrect dose may turn out to be fatal, although that might not matter

to the poachers, " he said.

 

He added that the idea behind using the tranquillising gun could be that

the poachers want to take away the horn without having to kill the

rhino. " One needs to be more vigilant now, " the official said.

 

" We are shocked as nobody had earlier heard of poachers using a

tranquilliser gun, " said an official who had earlier worked in Kaziranga

National Park.

 

A senior forest official said no sound is heard when an animal is sedated

with a tranquilliser gun. The miscreants can then simply take away the

horn without anybody knowing about it.

 

There have been four cases of poaching in Kaziranga this year, while

seven cases were reported last year.

 

The one-horned rhino in Kaziranga has always been the target of

poachers due to the high price it commands in the international market.

 

" The fact that poaching has come down considerably in recent years

should not make one complacent. The intelligence network has to be

sharpened throughout the region, " another official said.

 

Sources said the state forest department had constituted a wildlife crime

bureau for tackling poaching cases which have national and international

links but it seems to have been completely forgotten, " sources added.

The bureau does not have the latest arms and ammunition but has

people who have the knowledge of handling such cases.