2 rhinos killed at Kaziranga, one by poachers

Two adult rhinos died at the Kaziranga National Park here with one of them having been killed by poachers who took away its horn, sources said.
On the other hand, two poachers were killed in an encounter today in the area with a rifle and a large quantity of bullets having been recovered from them.
An adult male rhino was killed for its horn by alleged poachers at Kukurakota hill in Karbi Anglong district near Burapahar Range of the park, forest department sources said.
Hearing gunshots, forest guards launched a search operation and recovered the carcass of the rhino and found two empty AK-47 and three .303 cartridges by its side, sources said.

The other rhino reportedly died late last night after falling into a pit near Borbeel forest camp inside the World Heritage Site, sources added.
Although efforts were made to rescue the pachyderm, locals claimed it was them who had tried to save the animal by getting it out of the pit.

The rhino's horn was removed by forest officials for safe keeping this morning, sources added.
Meanwhile, in protest against the alleged negligence by forest officials in failing to rescue the rhino, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad put up a roadblock for three hours on National Highway 37.
So far, five rhinos have died in the park this year, four of them killed by poachers.

Also today, two poachers were killed in an encounter with forest guards in the Bagori Range of the park early this morning.
A rifle and a large quantity of bullets were recovered following the encounter.
Sources said that a group of five poachers had entered the park when they came face-to-face with a forest patrol.
In the exchange which followed, two poachers were killed on the spot while the others fled.
A search has been launched to track the other gang members, sources added.