KNP SOS to Govt after rhino poaching

Guwahati, Jul 6 (UNI) Kaziranga National Park authorities have dashed a report to the Asom government with highlighting the "loopholes" in the park's security machinery leading to recurring incidents of poaching.

Two days after a rhino - the eighth this year - was killed by poachers inside the park, top officials of the state's Forest department, including Chief Conservator of Forest M C Malakar, Forest Secretary R N Sarma, KNP Director Suren Buragohain and Golaghat SP Rana Bhuyan, met at the KNP Convention Centre this morning in a bid to figure out the lacunas in the park's security apparatus.

The meet, convened at the direction of the Forest Minister, contemplated on ways to curb the menace.

In its report to the state government, the KNP authorities pointed to lack of manpower, outdated arms and inadequate budgetary allocation as shortfalls, which required immediate attention.

Since 1995, at least 92 poachers had been killed, while another 660 arrested in the KNP alone.

After six rhinos were poached in the first quarter of this year, the Forest department had been facing much heat from various quarters to intensify the security arrangements.

Even international bodies had moved the Prime Minister, seeking adequate measures to check poaching the famed Park.

The world heritage site had witnessed the killing of 558 one-horned rhinos since 1980.

UNI