156 rhinos killed by poachers in last ten years in Assam

, Dec 21: Altogether 156 rhinos were killed, including 40 during the current year alone, by poachers in

, a senior minister said. In 1999, only six rhinos were killed, Minister for Forest and Environment Rakibul Hussain said here on Friday.

The rhino population, however, increased from 1,762 in 1999 to 2,544 this year, he said. Meanwhile, 467 people died in conflict with elephants during the last seven years with the highest 94 deaths recorded in 2009-2010. In 2011-2012, the number of deaths was 92, while 43 people lost their lives till November this year. Hussain said that the families of those killed in conflict with elephants were compensated.

PTI