Rhino killed by poachers near Orang National Park

Tezpur: The body of a bullet-riddled rhino with its horns removed was found by forest guards in Sonitpur district of Assam Tuesday morning.

The adult male rhino was allegedly killed by poachers last night and its carcass was found by patrolling forest guards at Nichalamari area under Dhekiajuli police station, Sonitpur (West) Divisional Forest Officer Narayan Mahanta said today.

The rhino came out from Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park in search of food and was suspected to have been killed by poachers near a paddy field fully covered with water.

Mahanta said a joint search operation has been launched by both forest and police personnel in Nichalamari area to nab the suspected poachers.

Two bullet marks were found in the rhino's body and it was covered with water. This is the third rhino killed in Orang during this year.