Assam: Two more rhinos killed in Kaziranga, toll rises to 18

Golaghat: Two more rhinos from the world-famous Kaziranga National Park were on Thursday killed by suspected poachers in Assam. While one rhino was killed and its horn was removed by the poachers, the other was found dead at a tea estate.

A female rhino was killed in the Dolamara range along the Karbi Hills and its horns removed, Park Director Sanjiv Bora said on Thursday.

The killings came barely a day after one rhino was killed and another was left bleeding in Kaziranga National Park.

The killings came barely a day after one rhino was killed and another was left bleeding in Kaziranga National Park.

Poachers have so far killed 16 rhinos this year. The attack on the rhinoceroses had sparked protests by the All Assam Students Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad who blocked the National Highway 37 passing beside of KNP.

The demonstrators also burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and forest minister Rockybul Hussain.

ULFA's anti-talk faction, led by Paresh Barua, also condemned the killing of rhinos and accused the state government of failing to save Assam's heritage.

"The state government and its Forest Department has failed to protect the rhinos and now it is the duty of aware people to take necessary steps to protect the animal," a statement e-mailed by the outfit to the media said.

The recent floods in Assam have displaced the animal from its habitat thereby leaving the rhino more vulnerable to poachers.

(With additional information from PTI)

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