Dead Rhinoceros Discovered in Kaziranga National Park Raises Concerns
Desk Report, March 17, 2024: In a troubling development, forest officials at Kaziranga National Park in Assam discovered the lifeless body of a rhinoceros near the riverbanks of Gai Tapu on Sunday. The carcass was initially sighted by local workers, who promptly alerted park authorities.
Forest department officials swiftly responded to the report, making their way to the scene to retrieve the body for a thorough post-mortem examination. Preliminary assessments indicate that the rhino may have succumbed to natural causes, potentially linked to old age. However, conclusive determination awaits the detailed post-mortem analysis.
Also read: Forest Department Seizes Large Quantity of Smuggled Timber in Goroimari
Notably, the intact horn of the rhino provides some reassurance, suggesting that poaching is not the likely cause of death, according to officials. An official from the forest department remarked, “The age of the animal suggests that natural causes might be responsible, but we will have to await the post-mortem report for confirmation.”
This discovery echoes a similar incident from February, when forest officers in Kaziranga National Park came across the carcass of another mature one-horned rhino in the Kohora range, in close proximity to Mona Beel. The recurrence of such occurrences underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and conservation efforts within the park.