Another one-horned rhino found killed in Assam

Poachers have killed yet another rhino in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, officials said Tuesday.

Park director N.K. Vasu said that forest guards recovered a carcass of a male rhino from Agaratoli range of the park Monday. "The horn was missing, which indicated it to be a case of poaching. We have also recovered bullets of a .303 rifle from near the carcass," Vasu said.

"I believe the rhino was killed a few days back. We only recovered the carcass yesterday (Monday)," he said.

Over 30 one-horned rhinos have been killed by poachers so far this year. While at least 22 rhinos have been killed in Kaziranga, three have been killed in Manas national park and one in Pabitora wildlife sanctuary this year, according to official statistics.

The Assam government recently started a project to install thermal cameras inside the Kaziranga National Park to detect the movement of poachers. The government also set up an elite unit - Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) - and equipped them with AK series rifles to fight the poachers.

However, the fresh case of poaching has once again exposed the loopholes in the security of national parks in Assam.