Rhino death at Gorumara: Autopsy suggests animal was poisoned

Amitava Banerjee | MP | Darjeeling: The autopsy of the rhinoceros, whose carcass was recovered from Gorumara National Forest has revealed the death could have been caused by poison. Three persons have been detained from a forest village for questioning.

Incidentally on December 25, the carcass of an adult rhinoceros was recovered from Gorumara National Forest in the Jalpaiguri district. The horn of the rhino was hacked off giving rise to the doubt that the animal was killed by poachers.

No bullet was found in the body after a four hour long autopsy. The Forest department feels that poison could have been administered to kill the rhino.

In order to find out the nature of the poison that could have been administered, body parts including tissues of the rhino are being sent to a forensic lab.

Many theories are afloat regarding the poison theory. As chances of poisoning a rhino by giving it fodder laced with poison is bleak, foresters feel that Aconitum could have been used. Poachers from North East have mastered the art of killing animals like rhinos and elephants by using this poison.

In the past, there are records of elephants being killed by poachers from North East using Aconitum in Buxa Tiger Reserve. In 2016, after a rhino was killed in Jaldapara National Forest, a syringe containing Aconitum was recovered from near the carcass.

A high alert has been issued in Jaldapara National Forest. Incidentally in 2016, around three rhinos were killed in Jaldapara.

Police arrested three persons in connection with the incident and an AK47 rifle used for shooting rhinos was recovered."The rhino carcass was recovered from an area called Garati at Gorumara. Garati is such an area where a sound of a shot cannot be avoided from reaching people. Hence, we feel the rhino was not shot using a firearm. A metal detector was also used during autopsy but no bullet could be located inside the body. We feel a lethal poison could have been used. Further forensic examination will help pinpoint the cause of death," stated Ujjwal Ghosh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife North.

Incidentally on April 21, 2017, the decomposed carcasses of two rhinos was found in the same locality. The horns of the rhinos were sawed off.