Forest officials have arrested three suspected poachers involved with last weekend’s rhino killing in Kaziranga National Park.
The arrest of three poachers is the latest development in last weekend’s shootout in Kaziranga between forest guards and poachers. The trio was captured in Nagaon as they were trying to escape through the Karbi Anglong district.
Two of the men are Paites from Manipur and the other a Guite from Karbi Anglong district’s Manja area. They were handed over to the police and are being held in Assam.
The Times of India reports that the suspected poachers are likely part of a larger network, and authorities are making efforts to gather additional information.
Forest officials are hoping to recover the rhino’s horn: One of the poachers claims to have dropped the horn during the escape.
On the same day the rhino was killed, forest officials found the carcasses of a tiger and an elephant, with the tusks and trunk chopped off.
Two guards and a supervisor were suspended for negligence shortly after the carcasses were discovered.
More firepower
The forest department has reportedly made a decision to provide revolvers to Kaziranga rangers. One of the problems has been that forest guards lack the weaponry to fight poachers, who are always well-armed.
There could be more manpower coming to Kaziranga – and India’s other national parks – as well.
Suresh Chand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said that the forest department has already started interviewing candidates for a 600-strong armed forest battalion.
Rhino and tiger poaching crisis
The recent rise in rhino – and tiger – poaching is driven by the insatiable demand in China, where unfortunate superstitions attribute medicinal powers to rhino horn and tiger body parts. Rising incomes in China has made it possible for more people to purchase illegal concoctions made from endangered species – driving these animals closer to extinction in the wild.
Kaziranga National Park is home to two-thirds of the world’s greater one-horned rhino population.
Image source: flickr.com/lipkee/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
there is a man name Mungpu Tombing, Bungmual, Churachandpur manipur who has been caring rhinos poachin for more than 20 years still doing un appreheded. in his hand more than 30 rhinos are killed. He is living in luxury life, house, branded car etc. because of rhino’s horns business. Through him many people started poaching of rhino. All his dear one started the business through him. He has branded nagaland registration car by which he goes to dimapur where they put up in a hotel from where they proceed to kaziranga national part. It seems that even the concerned authority are not serious in protecting the endanger animals like rhinos. It so why one man could still pursued for more than 20 years unapprehended and killing more than 30 rhonos so far.The concerned authroty shoud try to stop miscrents.