Asom Gana Parishad stage protest in Assam over killing of one-horned rhino

Irate over rampant killings of endangered one-horned rhinoceros Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) staged protests in Assam.

Led by former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and senior leaders of AGP held a demonstration in Kohora against surging Rhino deaths due to poaching in Kaziranga National Park.

Upset over recent spate in death of the threatened animals provincial leaders demanded stringent measures to check the killings.

"Kaziranga is famous for one horned Rhino, we feel proud of it but unfortunately last few years one horned rhino has been killed by the poachers, but government has failed to stop the killings. That is why we took some programmes in the past and today we have taken another programme," said Atul Bora, AGP leader.

The unabated killings of Rhinos by poachers in Kaziranga and other national parks like Pobitora, Manas and Orang have threatened the existence of the one-horned Rhino found mainly in Assam.

Rhino horn is sold at an extremely high price in the international market, particularly in China where it is used for its medicinal properties. Hence explaining the rampant poaching as it is a means of easy and fast money.

There were 2,329 rhinos in the park, according to the latest census.

Meanwhile,the police had registered three cases relating to rhino poaching during 2012 in and around Kaziranga.

Recently, the wildlife authorities' in India introduced the aerial drones equipped with cameras, to check rampant poaching.

To protect the one-horned rhino, wildlife authorities in Assam have even deployed armed guards, but they have often proved ineffective before the organised gangs of poachers, who continue to strike down the rhinos.

Rhino horn is in great demand in China and Southeast Asia as it is believed to possess aphrodisiac qualities, which are used in traditional medicines and allied concoctions.