Rhino body without horn found

TT, Oct. 17: The carcass of a sub-adult male rhino with its horn removed was found in Gorumara National Park last night and foresters suspect the animal was killed by poachers.

“This morning, while our staff members were patrolling Dhupjhora beat area inside Gorumara National Park, they noticed the rhino’s carcass. They informed us and we rushed to the spot,” said Sumita Ghatak, the divisional forest officer of Gorumara wildlife division.

“We have seen the carcass and can say the horn, which was around one-and-a-half inch long, has been sawn and taken away. It was not the job of an expert hand,” said Ghatak.

According to a forest source, this is the first incident of rhino poaching reported in Gorumara since 1992. “Since 1992, there hasn’t been a single incident of rhino poaching in Gorumara. At present, there are 55 rhinos in Gorumara National Park,” a forester said.

Tapas Das, the conservator of forests (wildlife, north Bengal), also visited the spot.

“We suspect that the animal was hit at least thrice with sharp weapons and it was still alive when the horn was sawn. The poachers have also taken away a portion of the animal’s head,” Das said.

“We will continue raids to nab the poachers. Assistance has been sought from district police. Our entire staff has been put on alert and were told to intensify vigil in the entire forest patch of Gorumara and adjoining areas,” he added.