Assam: Three Poachers Held with Rhino Claw and Hide along India-Bhutan Border Area of Chirang

GUWAHATI: Three poachers were arrested from the India-Bhutan border along with body parts of a rhino, arms and ammunition, according to reports on Sunday.

The poachers were apprehended during an operation conducted jointly by the Forest Department of Chirang district in Assam and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) on receipt of a tip-off, the reports said.

The apprehended poachers were later identified as Biren Narzary, Noweswar Basumatary and Nal Bahadur Magar. All of the three arrested poachers hail from Jaipur Malibhita in Chirang district.

According to the reports, parts of a rhino like claws and hide, along with a hand-made pistol and bullets were also recovered from the possession of the held poachers.

Meanwhile, the arrested poachers have reportedly confessed about their involvement in the poaching of two rhinos at the Manas National Park.

It was earlier in June that two poachers were injured during a firing incident that occurred at the Manas National Park. The incident is said to have occurred at the national park’s Musalpur Division area. The two poachers were identified as Dharmendra Vari and Gopal Bahadur Magar.

On receipt of a specific tip-off, an operation was conducted under the supervision of Forest Officer Kameshwar Boro and Koklabari Beat Officer Dipank Das in the national park.

It was reported that the poachers received bullet injuries on their back and hands during the operation. They were apprehended and admitted at the Barpeta Medical College for treatment.

Manas National Park is a national park, Project Tiger reserve, as well as an elephant reserve located along the Himalayan foothills in Assam, India. It borders the Royal Manas National Park in adjoining areas of Bhutan. The name of the park originated from the Manas River, a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the heart of the national park.

The Manas National Park was declared by the government as a sanctuary on October 1, 1928, comprising an area of 360 km2 (140 sq miles). Later, Manas bio reserve was created in 1973. Prior to its being declared a sanctuary, it was a reserved forest called Manas Reserved Forest and North Kamrup R.F. Historically, it was used by the Cooch Behar royal family and Raja of Gauripur as a hunting reserve. It was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in December 1985.

The national park is famous for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. Manas is also famous for its population of the wild water buffalo. Because of its exceptional biodiversity, scenery, and variety of habitats, Manas National Park is a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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