From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: One more translocated rhino was poached in Manas National Park in western Assam bordering Bhutan Himalayas. Forest officials informed that the poachers cut away the horn of the animal after killing it in Kahitema Beat of Bansbari Range of the Park on Tuesday.
It happened to be fourth translocated rhinos to be poached in Manas Park that is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So far 22 rhinos have been translocated to Manas National Park from other protected areas of Assam as part of the India Rhino Vision 2020 programme.
Manas National Park was selected for translocation of rhinos under the Rhino Vision 2020 programme to restore rhino population in the Park where the animal became extinct during 1990s when the area was severely disturbed due to Bodo militancy and civil unrest related to Bodo tribe’s statehood movement.
The militants had ravaged the picturesque national park during that phase virtually destroying the animal population.
The restoration of the magnificent animal habitat started in early 2000s after the situation in Bodo tribe dominated areas which now fall under Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), turned comparatively peaceful in the wake of signing of Bodo Peace Accord in the year 2003 with militant Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), now disbanded.
