Another rhino shot dead, toll reaches 15

One more rhinoceros fell prey to the poachers' bullet who also chopped its horn in Kaziranga National Park, taking the toll to 15 this year.
The carcass of the 25-year-old rhino with three bullet injury marks was found by forest officials this evening in Baghe Tapu area of Sonitpur district, Range Officer Basanta Kakoti said.
The animal was killed last night and the poachers sawed away its horn, Kakoti said.
Baghe Tapo is about 50 kms from the range office at Biswanathghat in the Sixth Addition area of Kaziranga.
On March 23, a rhinoceros was shot dead by poachers between Kharoli and Borhola camp of the World Heritage site's Burapahar range and its horn, nails and patches of skin were removed.

Yesterday, the carcass of a five-month old rhino calf, assumed to be killed by a tiger, was also found in the Park, while on March 1, the 'Pride of Assam' was killed with an AK-47 rifle and its horns removed near Arikati forest camp of the Park.