Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.
CM Sarma said no rhino was poached at Kaziranga, Manas, Orang national parks and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary last year, calling it landmark.
“Zero Poaching! 2022 was really special for our rhino conservation efforts. Not a single rhino being poached in 2022 & just 2 in 2021, the gentle giant is now much safer in Assam. Kudos to Assam Forest Dept & Assam Police for their sincere efforts to protect the iconic animal,” CM Sarma tweeted on Monday.
Special DGP GP Singh posted data on Twitter on Monday that showed that 2022 was the first since at least 2000 in which there were no incidents of rhino poaching in Assam.
“Anti Rhino poaching efforts have yielded spectacular results. There has been no rhino poaching in Assam in Year 2022. Last poaching was on Dec 28th 2021 at Hilakunda, Kohora in Golaghat district. We would strive to keep the graph flat,” Singh tweeted.
As many as 191 rhinos were poached in Assam between 2000 and 2021. In 2013 and 2014, 27 rhino deaths each were reported. In 2020 and 2021, two rhinos each were killed.
As per the latest census data put out by Kaziranga National Park authority, the national park is now home to 2,613 rhinos and the numbers are increasing.
