Guwahati: Drone combing, combined with elephant patrolling surveillance, helped the Kaziranga National Park authorities detect the hunting of a Rhino by a spear.
As per the information available, on November 24, 2023, around 8.30 PM, the key accused, Naren Saikia, a 47-year-old resident of Lokhorakhonia threw a spear at a Rhino that had ventured into their area. Following intelligence gathered by the DFO (Eastern Assam Wildlife Division) Arun Vignesh and team, Naren Saikia was arrested and sent to judicial custody on Nov 26.
The Kaziranga forest department staff, led by Dr Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi, Forest Ranger, Kaziranga undertook drone combing combined with elephant patrolling surveillance. The carcass was detected on November 30 at 2.30 pm near Teteliguri Anti Poaching Camp (Ekorani Area) inside the National Park.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The postmortem was conducted in the presence of committee members comprising veterinarians and civil society members on December 1.
The Female Rhino is estimated to be aged 20-30 years old, and the cause of death is an injury on the left flank rear of the stomach with deep penetration of the weapon (spear) across skin and ribs. Further samples have been collected for DNA analysis and the RhoDIS system and shall be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India. The horn was intact and recovered as per standard procedure by departmental staff for safe custody.
Also Read | What can we do to protect children from sexual abuse?