One-horned rhino killed in Assam

Poachers killed a one-horned rhino in Assam's Pobitora wildlife sanctuary which opened for the public barely two weeks ago.

The carcass of a female rhino was recovered during routine patrolling Saturday, said park officials. The body bore bullet marks and its horn was missing, indicating that it was a case of poaching.

"A patrolling party spotted the carcass today (Saturday) morning on the southern side of the sanctuary. We believe that the poachers killed the animal last night," said a senior official of the park.

This is the second one-horned rhino killed inside the sanctuary since January this year. Spread over 38.80 square km, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary has close to 100 rhinos according to a census in 2012.

It was only on Nov 2 this year that Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain opened the park for tourists for this year's tourist season.

The park will remain open till end of April after which it will be closed for tourists due to the onset of the monsoon season. Located about 40 km from Guwahati, the sanctuary draws more tourists due to its proximity to Guwahati and its thriving rhino population.

While two rhinos have been killed in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, at least 23 one-horned rhinos have been killed in Kaziranga National Park this year.

The highest number of poaching cases in Assam was recorded last year, when 41 rhinos were killed by poachers. Of these 27 were killed in Kaziranga, five in Manas national park, three in Orang national park, two in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary and four in other areas.

Hussain had recently informed the state assembly that 193 one-horned rhinos have fallen victim to poaching in Assam since 2001.