What a shame! where are administrators?? Govt?
Six rhinos killed, global poachers involved
KAZIRANGA, April 16: At least six endangered one-horned rhinos have been killed
since January, including two this month, by poacher gangs at the Kaziranga
National Park, say officials.
Six rhinos poached in about 100 days, including two killed in the past week,
is a matter of grave concern, said park warden Utpal Bora.
The 430 sq km park is home to the single largest population of the one-horned
rhinoceros.
As per latest figures, 1,855 of the worlds estimated 2,700 rhinos live in the
wilds of Kaziranga their numbers ironically making them a favourite target for
poaching.
We are certain that the recent hunting for their horns was done at the behest
of a very organised international poaching syndicate that has pumped in lot of
funds to attract shooters to kill the animals, Bora told IANS.
Carcasses of the six adult rhinos bereft of their horns were found at the park.
The poachers had used rifles and carbines to hunt the animals.
We have mobilised all the resources and have stepped up security in the park.
The villagers have joined us in our fight against poaching, another park
ranger said.
Organised poachers kill rhinos for their horns, which many believe contain
aphrodisiac qualities besides being used as medicines for curing fever, stomach
ailments and other diseases.
Rhino horn is also much fancied by buyers from the Middle East who turn them
into handles of ornamental daggers. Elephant ivory tusks are primarily used for
making ornaments and decorative items.
Profits from the illegal rhino horn trade are staggering - rhino horn sells for
up to Rs.1.5 million ($35,000) per kg in the international market. The fresh
incidents of poaching come at a time when authorities believed the endangered
one-horned rhinos were charging back from the brink of extinction.
There was a time when poachers slaughtered about 50 rhinos annually in the
early 1990s. But things have slowed down in recent years due to stepped up
vigil. Now all off a sudden we see a spurt in poaching again, Bora said.
Five rhinos were poached last year and seven in 2005.
According to government estimates, poachers have killed about 500 of the beasts
during the past two decades. (IANS)
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