Forest officials of Assam were able to save a rhino’s life and cruel butchering of its horn when they arrested 5 poachers in Assam’s Orang national park last Sunday. Mangaldoi wildlife divisional forest officer, Sunnydeo Choudhury said that the poachers had already chalked out their plan to sneak into Orang, on the northern banks of Brahmaputra about 150 km from here, at 11 pm on Sunday. The officials were thankfully right on time to foil the plan and save a rhino.
- Image via Sanctuary Asia
“The poachers were sheltered in the house of one Mafijuddin at Bechimari village on the buffer of Orang Tiger Reserve. Soon after we got the tip-off about their presence, our forest team led by range officer Chakrapani Roy and police from Dalgaon police station swooped into the house of Mafijuddin at 10.35 pm and arrested them,” Choudhury said.
Safe Haven
Orang National Park is spread over 79.28 sq km has 100-odd rhinos. It is also a crucial tiger habitat. What has been imperative to the safety of rhinos and tigers in this park is the determined staff that has successfully foiled most attempts of poachers to hunt for rhinos. In 2015 the park recorded zero poaching cases and this year the one sad news of a rhino killed for its horn from this park came on June 30th.
The arrested poachers were carrying with them .303 rifle along with 22 live cartridge, one silencer pipe, a machete and food.
The sharp shooter has been identified as a poacher from Manipur.
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