A record number of 15 highly endangered one horned rhinos perished at the hands of poachers in the Kaziranga National Park this year.
Replying to a question by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) member Girindra Kumar Barua in the state assembly here today, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said the highest number of 15 rhinos had been poached in the Kaziranga National Park while three were killed in the Orang national park till last month. During 2003-04, four rhinos were killed while the figures in 2004-05 and 2005-06 were five each, he said. Due to the relentless effort by the forest authorities to check poaching, 145 poachers were arrested so far in Kaziranga among whom 20 were shot dead by the forest guards. The minister assured the House that steps would be taken to ensure safety of the highly endangered species and patrolling would be intensified. Hussain said a high level committee under the Director General of Police had been formed with members from the district level administration and police officers to make people aware of the need to protect the wild animals. KOUSHIK HAZARIKA
