Another rhino killed in Kaziranga

Guwahati: In yet another embarrassment for the Assam forest department, poachers killed another one-horned rhino at the Kaziranga National Park, taking the toll across the state to 28 this year.

The poachers, however, could not take away the horn.Park director M.K. Yadav said the poachers shot at the rhino near the Teteliguri forest camp inside the park.

"After hearing gunshots, forest guards launched an operation against the poachers and they located the injured rhino," he said.

The rhino died early Thursday.

"The horn was intact. The poachers could not take it away due to the operation by the guards," he said.

Last week, a rhino was killed at the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district. The poachers fled after chopping off its horn.

At least 28 rhinos have been killed in the protected areas of Assam this year -- 23 at the Kaziranga park, a Unesco world heritage site, two in Pobitora and three at the Manas National Park.