An adult rhino was shot dead by gang of poachers in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district this evening, while a carcass of a rhino, suspected to have been killed by poachers, with its horn removed, was recovered from Kaziranga National Park today.
At about 6 PM forest guards in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary heard more than seven rounds of gun shots near the Tamuliduba camp and on searching they found the carcass of the rhino with its horn intact, the sources said.
A gang of four poachers killed the rhino from close range, they said, adding, the armed Forest Protection Force cordoned off the area to track them down. Forest Department officials soon rushed there.
The 38.8 sqkm Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 30 km east of Guwahati, has the densest population of the Great Indian one-horned Rhino in its effective 16 sqkm rhino habitat.
Earlier in the day, the carcass of the adult male rhino was recovered near Debeshwari No 2 Nullah in the Agratoli range of the Kaziranga National Park this afternoon by patrolling forest guards, park officials said.
Several empty cartridges of .303 rifle were found near the animal which forest officials suspect was killed last night.
Altogether 34 rhinos have lost their lives during the year, the officials said.
Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain had yesterday announced that the government was planning to instal solar fencing in Kaziranga National Park to protect wildlife.
