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For the first time in 20 years, not a single rhinoceros was killed in Assam last year, know how it was possible

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that not a single rhino was poached in his state in the year 2022. He said that this has been possible due to technical arrangements, armed forces and monitoring of forest department employees. The Chief Minister said that after 20 years there has been success in achieving this target. It so happened about 20 or 25 years ago that not a single rhinoceros was hunted in Assam.

Sarma said that the last rhino was hunted in December 2021. The rhinoceros was killed in Hilakunda in Golaghat district. In June 2021, the Assam government had formed a task force of 22 members. This task force is working under the leadership of Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh. Under this, armed commandos were deployed who keep an eye on the poachers.

Apart from this, the government has constituted a team of 22 members including senior forest officers and SPs of at least 11 districts, divisional forest officers and 6 wildlife divisions. These districts include Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Baksa, Chirang, Barpeta and Majul. In 2013 and 2014, 27 rhinos were killed in the state. After this, in 2016, 18 rhinos were killed. If strictness was done gradually, this number decreased and in 2021 only one rhinoceros was killed.

There are 2613 rhinos in Kaziranga National Park and their number is increasing continuously. In the month of September, the Assam government had burnt 2479 rhino horns. The government wanted to convey the message that rhino horns have no value and are not even used to make medicine.