Two rhino poaching bids foiled
GUWAHATI/JORHAT: Officials of Kaziranga and Orang national parks successfully foiled two separate attempts by poachers to kill rhinos in the precincts of the parks.
The anti-poaching operations in the two national parks have been intensified following increasing attempts by poachers to kill rhinos, whose horns are in demand in Southeast Asian markets where they are used in traditional medicine recipes.
At Kaziranga on Monday, forest guards resorted to gunfire when a gang of three poachers sneaked into the Bagori forest range of the park on Sunday night. The combing operation in the dense areas of the park lasted till 11.30 am, but the poachers managed to escape. They, however, could not kill any rhino.
"We heard a gunshot inside the forest. Our staff opened fire in retaliation. But no one was injured in the exchange of fire. There were three poachers in all, equipped with a .303 rifle. However, they managed to escape," a Kaziranga park official said.
