Poachers kill rhino in Kaziranga

JORHAT: Another rhino was killed by poachers in the Kaziranga National Park on Friday. The horn of the rhino was found missing.

Forest staff found six rounds of empty cartridges and ammunition from the spot. The incident occurred in the Nahor Kathoni area of the park's Kohora forest range around 7.30am. Forest guards found the carcass when they were on patrol.

"Our staff found the carcass of an adult male rhino from the Nahor Kathoni area of our forest range. We believe poachers killed him and chopped off its horn before our staff reached the spot. We also found some ammunition," said Kohora forest range officer M Tamuly.

He said the authorities have intensified their operation against poachers inside the forest and they expect the poachers will be arrested soon.

"We have gathered information about the gang of poachers involved. They are still hiding inside the national park and would fall into trap soon," he said.

With this, the total number of rhinos killed by poachers has gone up to 21 this year so far, said divisional forest officer (Kaziranga) S K Seal Sharma.