Guwahati : According to an official on Friday, a guy has been taken into custody in Assam for reportedly harming a rhino, which led to the animal’s demise.
According to Sonali Ghosh, director of Kaziranga National Park, the one-horned female rhino in question perished in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve following an attack by Naren Saikia, who brandished a spear.
But the rhino ran away hurt and into the jungle. Drones were later used by officials in an attempt to find it.
“We could not trace the injured rhino until Thursday evening when its carcass was found at a place,” Ghosh stated.
The rhino was attacked on November 24. Two days later, Saikia was taken into custody by the Forest Department.
Ghosh stated: “We initially arrested the accused for attacking the animal but after recovering the carcass, the charges changed.”
Sections 2 and 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act are now being used to charge Saikia.
Some people gathered on November 24, at approximately 8.30 p.m., upon hearing the rhino’s screams.
“Saikia fled when he spotted the peasants, but many nearby knew who he was. Based on information we received from the locals, we were able to detain him,” Ghosh stated.
She added that despite Naren’s admission of guilt, he has not disclosed the motive for the attack.
“He admits to attacking the wild animal with a spear, but it’s not obvious if he wanted to use the horn for sale. Since it may be connected to eating meat, we cannot classify it as poaching,” Ghosh continued.
She asserted that some hunters pursue prey because they consume the flesh of elephants and rhinos.
“He attempted to kill the creature to obtain its entire body but he didn’t cut the horn,” said Ghosh.
Rhino poaching has decreased in Assam in recent years, and there was none in Kaziranga National Park last year.
