The NRIs (Assamese) in USA who have expressed deep concern on the increasing incidents of rhino poaching in Assam, have been preparing a white paper on the sensitive issue, disclosed Rajen Barua, the chief office-bearer of the Friends of Assam & Seven Sisters (FASS). Barua also emphasized the necessity for more awareness among the people and their perennial cooperation to save the endangered one-horned rhinos in the region.
Banajutshna, a nature organisation of Golaghat district has expressed its deep anguish over the ruthless and cold-blooded killing of the rhinos by poachers in the Kaziranga National Park. It is also equally disturbing that killings of rhinos as well as removal of its horns have become a regular feature in the KNP almost every year. It is high time the government of Assam, should publish a white paper on rhino poaching as early as possible. The united effort of the Forest department and public may solve the problem.
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) will stage a Statewide protest on May 3 in protest against the spurt in rhino poaching. Reiterating that a CBI probe be initiated to get to the roots of the rhino poaching, the AASU said that Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain had proved to be totally incompetent in checking rhino deaths and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was turning a blind eye to the developments.
A nine-member expert team headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF-Wildlife) MC Malakar has started an on-the-spot visit to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), Pabitora and Orang from today. The expert team visited Pabitora this morning and the KNP in the afternoon. It will visit Orang tomorrow. The committee has been formed by Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain at a meeting yesterday as the killing of rhinos continued unabated in the State.
Following the recent spurt in killing of one-horned rhinos in Orang National Park (ONP) that resulted in deaths of two rhinos on April 20 and 21, one more rhino was killed in the park on the night of April 27. Meanwhile, members of the All Darrang District Students' Union (ADDSU) staged a dharna in front of the office of the DFO, Orang Wildlife Division at Mangaldai yesterday demanding an immediate stop in killing of rhinos.
After a lull, poachers struck again in Kaziranga National Park and killed two more rhinos, including a calf. This is the second incident of rhino poaching in the state within a week. Two rhinos were killed in the Orang National Park last week. The forest guards on Monday found the carcasses of the two rhinos at Kaziranga at the Agaratoli range of the national park. The horn was missing and tigers had feasted on more than half of the carcass of the calf.
The fifth edition of the annual Kaziranga Elephant Festival will get under way at Kaziranga National Park tomorrow. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day festival at 10 in the morning. However, inclement weather may play spoilsport in the smooth conduct of the carnival. The organizers said about 60 elephants are likely to be used for the customary procession at 8 am.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has suggested to the authorities of Kaziranga National Park to keep the centenary park open to tourists round the year. The Chief Minister revealed this during his brief sojourn at Mou Chapori, a holiday spot in the middle of the Brahmaputra river, on Tuesday.
