Guwahati Jan 15 (IANS) Poachers have killed this year s first one-horned rhino at the Kaziranga national park but failed to take away the horn park officials said on Monday.
Assam s Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Bikash Brahma said that due to the alertness of the forest guards the poachers could not cut the horn.
"The guards heard gunshots from a place near Bagori range around 9.10 p.m. on Sunday. They fires several rounds in retaliation " said Brahma forcing the poachers to flee.
"It is a sad incident. But you can see the horn is still intact. This indicates the enhanced security and alertness by our guards " Brahma said.
The poaching of one-horned rhinos have kept the guards at the Kaziranga national park in Assam on their toes. While five one-horned rhinos were killed in the park last year 18 rhinos were killed in 2016.
--IANS
ah/mr