STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Assam witnessed only one case in 2021 of a one-horned rhino being killed by poachers in various National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the State.
This number is the lowest in the last 22 years. The previous two years has also witnessed a dip in incidents of rhino poaching, with two rhinos being killed in 2020 and three being killed in 2019.
It is worthy of mention that rhino poaching had reached its peak in 2013 and 2014, with 27 rhinos being killed in each year.
The year-wise data of rhino poaching since 2000 is as follows: four in 2000; eight in 2001; four in 2002; three in 2003; four in 2004; seven in 2005; five in 2006; 16 in 2007; six in 2008; six in 2009; five in 2010; three in 2011; 11 in 2012; 27 in 2013; 27 in 2014; 17 in 2015; 18 in 2016; six in 2017; seven in 2018; three in 2019; two in 2020 and one in 2021.
GP Singh, Chief of the Anti-Rhino Poaching Task Force, Assam, stated in a tweet on Saturday: "Year 2021 saw only one incident of rhino poaching in April 2021. The containment of poaching of one-horned rhino has been a major achievement of Anti-Poaching Task Force constituted by @mygovassam in June 2021. Compliments to @assampolice and @kaziranga_personnel. @CMOfficeAssam"
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