Two more rhinos killed in Kaziranga NP, India.

30/12/2006 00:00:00 August 2007:Two more one horned Asian rhinos have been killed on the outskirts of the Kaziranga National Park today, taking the total numbers poached to 14 in 2007, the highest in the past few years.

Though ten of them were killed within the park, four were shot outside the park, confirming fears that poachers were taking advantage of the floods.

In the first incident, a body of a female rhinoceros was discovered by a patrolling team in Bonkuwal just 5 kms away from the Eastern Boundary of the park. The animal was first shot at Arjun Chapori, a river island near the park, villagers who heard the gun shots at night, said. The wounded animal then crossed the river to reach Bonkuwal where it finally collapsed. The poachers cut its horn and removed its skin before escaping official sources said. A piece of good news.
Since the killing however, and following a tip off from some villagers, 4 poachers have been arrested from a nearby village, including the leader of the poaching gang. It is believed that this gang have been involved in the detahs of several rhinos this year, and that they were involved in a shoot out with Kaziranga Park Staff in July.

Courtesy of the Wildlife Trust of India.