Click to play videoKaziranga National Park (Assam): In the recent past, 12 rhinos have been killed in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Park’s footsoldiers - the forest guards – entrusted with protecting the nearly 2,000 one-horned rhinos, are going through tough times as dead rhinos become an unfortunately common sight.
Most of these rhinos are poached for their horns which is chopped off with electric saws once the animal dies.
But just how are poachers able to strike at will?
"The poachers know whenever flood comes animals will go to the hillside, we have temporary camps installed in those areas for patrolling," says forest ranger, Dharani Dhar Bodo.
The Brahmaputra floods force animals to move into higher grounds, making them more vulnerable to poachers.
The flooding also adds to the pressure of patrolling and forest guards too are ill-equipped to deal with the menace.
All they have are ancient 303 rifles, non-functional walkie-talkies and dilapidated country boats. The only motorboat available works on a lucky day.
Though the Assam government has announced several steps to counter rhino poaching, the results aren’t satisfying." The Elephant Project has given more than Rs 1 crore, but people are not getting benefits,” says Soumyodeep Dutta of Nature's Beckon.
All this leaves the men in charge of protecting the rhino little to fight the poachers with or to ensure the success of one of the biggest conservation efforts of the country.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
