3 more rhino deaths due to flood, 2 deaths by poachers

Jorhat, Aug 5: Three more carcasses of adult rhinos, which perished due to floods, have been recovered from Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Assam on Thursday.

DFO of Kaziranga National Park Subashis Das said during the current wave of flood the rhino casualty toll has gone up to 20 as KNP authorities had spotted three more adult rhino carcasses this evening - one at Burahpahar Range while two others at Bagori Range of the UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site.

He said horns in two rhino carcasses were found intact, while the horn in the third rhino is found missing. On the same day carcasses of a rhino duo - mother and calf - killed by poachers were recovered near Bokpara forest camp, the official said.

The horn of the adult female rhino was taken away by the poachers, Das said. This followed the recovery of carcass of an adult male rhino believed to have died due to the current floods in the Park's Kohora Range yesterday.

KNP authorities are making every effort to save the wildlife of Kaziranga National Park where the flood related wildlife casualty was estimated to be 315, said Das.

PTI