Four rhinoceros have been brutally killed by poachers in flood-hit Kaziranga National Park (KNP) since Tuesday, including one on Thursday, prompting an alarmed Assam Government to ask for a CBI inquiry into it and post the army in the fringe areas.
Terming as “shocking” the killings of the endangered animal as, Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan ordered a probe by a team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials and sought a report within a week.
“I am shocked.... Unscrupulous poachers have exploited the situation of natural disaster (floods) and attacked helpless animals which were seeking shelter. I have ordered a probe by a team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials,” she told
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who returned from Japan on Thursday, told reporters here that the State Government would recommend to the Centre a CBI inquiry into the killing of rhinos by poachers during the past three years.
He also announced cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone providing information about the poachers.
KNP Director Sanjay Bora said poachers killed one female rhino at Dolamara range along the Karbi hills in the early hours of the Thursday and removed its horn, considered an aphrodisiac and also used in traditional medicine.
A male rhino, who had strayed from the flooded park, was found shot inside Jagadamba tea estate bordering Bagori range of the Park with its horn removed, Bora said, adding the animal is struggling for its life and a veterinary team has rushed to the spot to treat it.
Another female rhino left bleeding yesterday by poachers, who shot it, sawed off its horn and cut off a part of its right ear, had died.
The carcass of a fourth rhino with its horn removed was found at the Kaziranga Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Forest Minister Rakibul Hussain told reporters here that army personnel would be deployed in the fringe areas of KNP to prevent poachers from escaping after committing the crime.
He said, all measures have been taken to protect the rhinos but poachers were taking advantage of the flood, which had submerged 80 per cent of the reserve.
“We have taken steps to equip Forest Department personnel with sophisticated weapons and more forest guards will be deployed soon to deal with the situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the rhino killing has sparked off protests by the All Assam Students’ Union, Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad and Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad who blocked National Highway 37 which runs through the park. The demonstrators also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain.
ULFA’s anti-talk faction, led by Paresh Barua, also condemned the killings and accused the State Government of failing to save Assam’s heritage.