(IN): Assam Killing Fields Update: Rhino carcass at Orang

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080430/jsp/guwahati/story_9208328.jsp

 

Rhino carcass at Orang

A STAFF REPORTER

 

Guwahati, April 29: Forest officials today recovered the carcass of a

male rhino at the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, at a time when

additional armed guards arrived at the park to step up security.

 

A gang of three poachers killed the rhino at the Hathi camp area on

Sunday. The poachers fled from the spot when they saw forest personnel

heading towards them.

 

" Forest personnel rushed to the spot within minutes but the poachers

fled, " said an official, adding that the poachers had fired three

rounds at them.

 

" Our officials were trying to locate the rhino and finally found it

this morning, " the official said. The poachers could not take away the

horn.

 

This is the third rhino to be killed in Orang in the past two weeks

and has raised fears that the park was becoming a soft target for

poachers.

 

Aaranyak, a wildlife conservation organisation, has called for giving

equal importance to Orang, regarded as a miniature of Kaziranga.

 

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today criticised chief minister

Tarun Gogoi for his failure to protect rhinos. Its advisor Samujjal

Bhattacharyya told newsmen that when every individual in the state had

expressed concern over the rampant killing of rhinos, the state

government was only a mute spectator.

 

" Gogoi has totally failed in taking steps to protect this prized

possession of Assam, " he said.

 

AASU president Shankar Prashad Rai said the students' union would not

allow the continuous killings of rhinos.

 

" We will launch a massive agitation in protest against the

government's failure to protect the rhinos, " he said.

 

 

On 4/28/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

> Monday, April 28` 2007

>

> An adult rhinoceros and its baby was killed in the wee hours this morning by

> poachers who have liteally taken over Assam`s national parks and sanctiaries

> as the Government watches helplessly. The horns were taken away by the

> poachers.

>

> It may be noted that few days back two adult rhinos were killed at the Orang

> National Park in the state but the poachers failed to run away with the

> horns due to the gun battle that follwed between the poachers and the

> guards.

>

> Azam Siddiqui

>

>

>

> --

> United against elephant polo

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

 

 

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