Poachers kill female rhino in Kaziranga

Jorhat

An adult female rhino was killed by poachers who took away its horn, patch of its skin and nails at Kaziranga National Park in Assam, KNP officials said here today.

Gunshots were heard on Sunday night in Bagori range of the Park, but due to heavy fog and cold weather the security personnel could not reach or locate the exact site, they added.

Patrolling was, however, intensified in the area, they said.

Park personnel recovered the carcass of the rhino near Shitolmari camp under Bagori range with its horn missing and marks of AK-47 bullets on its body and five empty cartridges lying near it, the officials said.

Besides taking away its horn, the poachers also cut off portions of skin and peeled off the nails from its leg, they said.

The poachers were suspected to have entered the World Heritage Site from the western side through waterways not visible due to heavy fog, they said.

Last year 17 rhinos were killed by poachers in Kaziranga National Park.

PTI