Two poachers shot dead in Kaziranga
December 13th, 2010 - 2:26 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Dec 13 (IANS) Two rhino poachers were killed in a gun fight with wildlife rangers at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam Monday, officials said.A wildlife warden said a group of four to six poachers entered the park early Monday and were waiting for a rhino herd near the Agoratoli range.
“A team of forest guards chased the poachers and soon there was a gun fight between the two sides,” he said.
The firefight continued for about 30 minutes, killing two poachers.
“A massive hunt is on with forest guards looking for the other members of the group,” the warden said.
A rifle, a large quantity of ammunition, jungle boots, food and raincoats were also recovered, he added.
This is the second major success of forest rangers this year. Four rhino poachers were killed and seven arrested in May.
“We are happy with the way our forest guards are fighting an organised poaching syndicate active in the park. We cannot ignore the help from local villagers living on the periphery of the park in our fight against poachers,” Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain told IANS.
The 430 sq km park is home to the world’s largest concentration of one-horned rhinos. As per the 2009 census report, some 2,048 of the world’s estimated 3,000 one-horned rhinos lumber around the swamps and grasslands of Kaziranga.
Nine beasts were killed so far this year, while 18 rhinos were killed in 2008 and 14 in 2009. Between 1980 and 1997, some 550 rhinos were killed by poachers in the wilds of Kaziranga, the highest being 48 in 1992.
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 in parts of Asia.
Rhino horns are also much fancied by buyers from the Middle East who turn them into handles of ornamental daggers, while elephant ivory tusks are primarily used for making ornaments and decorative items.
A rhino horn sells for up to Rs.1.5 million per kilogram in the international market, according to officials of the forest department.
- Two poachers killed in Kaziranga, rhino found dead (Lead) - Dec 13, 2010
- Four rhino poachers killed in gunfight in Kaziranga - May 21, 2010
- One-horned rhino killed in Kaziranga park - Oct 28, 2010
- Poacher gang consisting of former forest guards busted - May 18, 2010
- BSF to check rhino poaching in Kaziranga - Feb 25, 2010
- Commandos trained by NSG to combat poachers - Jun 25, 2010
- Rhino killed by poachers in Kaziranga - Feb 04, 2010
- Rhino census to be held in Assam from March 15 - Feb 28, 2012
- Rhino found dead in Kaziranga - Jan 28, 2010
- Four Kaziranga rhinos to be released in Manas - Feb 19, 2012
- Poachers trying to poison rhinos in Assam's national park - Sep 18, 2009
- One-horned rhino killed in Assam - May 23, 2012
- Now dogs to the rescue of Kaziranga rhinos - Jan 22, 2012
- Poachers kill two rhinos in Kaziranga - Dec 22, 2009
- Assam's one-horned rhino population rises by 250 - Apr 09, 2012
Tags: census report, curing fever, early monday, elephant ivory, firefight, forest guards, forest minister, forest rangers, gun fight, guwahati, ivory tusks, jungle boots, kaziranga national park, massive hunt, poachers, raincoats, rhino horn, rhino horns, rhinos, stomach ailments