A third relocated rhino has been poached in Manas sanctuary in Assam, causing concern among conservationists and prompting World Wildlife Fund(WWF), partners in the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 programme, to question the sincerity of the state forest department in protecting the endangered animal.

The discovery of the crime comes close on the heels of the recovery of two carcasses of rhinos, with horns cut off, in Morigaon and Sonitpur districts of the state on January 11.