Floods are a boon for the poachers in Asom

Guwahati, Jun 14 (UNI) The annual floods in Asom has its effect not only on the people but also the animals that roam the forests of the state.

As the animals move towards the national highways when their normal habitats get inundated by flood water, poaching becomes a matter of concern for the forest officials.

A Kaziranga National Park (KNP) forest official said when the interior areas remain submerged, the forest camps are also shifted to the highways to provide protection to the animals who also move in that direction.

As the animals are forced to come out in the open, the poachers have a field day with extra pressure on the forest department to ensure the safety of the displaced animals.

The official said in the last four days, seven poachers have been arrested from Agaratali forest in KNP.

He informed that two poachers were nabbed by locals on June 10 when they noticed the former moving about in a mysterious manner.

However, their associates managed to escape.

A rifle and 17 rounds of ammunition were also recovered from them.

The other five were arrested on the basis of the description given by the arrested poachers.

The official said one of the arrested, Gopal Patgiri, had admitted of having been involved in the killing of four rhinos in the reserve forest earlier.

He admitted that poaching incidents rise during the floods, adding that the forest department has stepped up vigilance with the incidents coming down drastically over the years.

UNI SG KK AKP1453