(IN): Poaching spurt in KNP

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Poaching spurt in KNP

 

*From our Correspondent

JORHAT, July 21: The fear of poaching always lurks in the Kaziranga National

Park, the abode of the one-horned rhinoceros. Poachers have once again

turned the national park, spread over an area of 860 square kilometres, into

a happy hunting ground for the prized rhino horn which is sole at an

exorbitant price in the international market. As many as ten rhinos have

already been hunted down under different ranges of the centenary park,

designated a World Heritage Site, in the first seven months of this year.

This is for the first time in a decade that the number of rhinos poached has

touched the double figures. Earlier in 1997, 12 rhinos were killed by

poachers. The latest case of poaching reported yesterday had occurred near a

water body at Agaratoli under the eastern range of the KNP. What has been

noteworthy about the poaching this time around was that the illegal hunters

had used the primitive method of digging up a pit to trap the rhino and

'silently kill' it, informed sources said.

This is being done to escape the intensive anti-poaching mechanism which is

in place in the national park. A well-organized circuit of poachers is

always active in the area, ready to strike if there is the slightest

leniency on the part of the forest guards, the sources pointed out. " The

unscrupulous operatives will swing into action if patrolling in the park is

slackened even for a couple of days " , they said.

The Burapahar range has borne the maximum brunt of poaching this year.

Poachers have killed five rhinos in the area so far. The eastern range has

accounted for three rhino deaths. The two other ranges – Kohora and Bagori

(western range) – have witnessed one rhino death each.

Meanwhile, the KNP authorities are understood to have gone on a drive to

reinforce the strength of forest guards. The police will provide support to

the park authorities in terms of reinforcement of manpower strength as well

as supply of arms and ammunition. The KNP sentinels had gunned down three

poachers this year.

The Kaziranga National Park is a swampy grassland dotted with numerous

wetlands and patches of dense woodland. There are 39 species of mammals and

480 species of birds in the park which attract hordes of tourists, both

domestic and foreign.

A report from Guwahati added: Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of

Forest MC Malakar today said that the department was worried over the

killing of rhinos in the KNP. Talking to The Sentinel today, he said:

" During the last six months as many as three poachers were killed by the

forest guards. Our patrolling is on, but the poachers are taking the

advantage of our difficulties. We have to strengthen our information

network " .

 

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