102 rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, census finds

A total of 102 rhinos have been counted in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary here during a census carried out by the state's forest department, a senior official said today.

The one horned rhino census was conducted after six years in the sanctuary, which has vast tracks of swamp land.

Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division-Guwahati, P Boruah told reporters that 102 rhinos are there in the 48-sq km Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, the "densest habitat of one horned rhinos in the world".

During the last six years, six rhinos have been shot dead by poachers in the sanctuary, while 20 others had natural deaths, the DFO said.

Boruah said the sanctuary was badly affected by floods in 2017, but after repair work, there has been heavy turn out of both domestic and foreign tourists this year.