Three Held for Alleged Rhino Poaching Plot in Kaziranga National Park

Three suspected poachers were arrested in Assam’s Lakhimpur district while allegedly planning to target rhinos in the famed Kaziranga National Park, officials said on Sunday. The arrests were made during a joint anti-poaching operation amid continuing concerns over wildlife crime in the region.

According to park authorities, the accused were apprehended from Narayanpur following intelligence inputs received by officials of the Eastern Range, Gamiri, and the Crime Investigation Range of the Biswanath Wildlife Division. Sonali Ghosh said the operation was linked to a wildlife offence case registered in March.

“The accused were planning rhino poaching in the sixth additional area of the national park,” Ghosh said. During the operation, forest teams also recovered parts of a country-made firearm , including a rifle bolt and butt, from Ukhal Chuk in Assam’s Majuli district.

Officials said the three accused are residents of Majuli, Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts. Earlier in the investigation, forest personnel had seized a .303 rifle and 13 rounds of ammunition from the Gopaljarani area near Kaziranga. Authorities suspect the involvement of a larger organised poaching network .

Wildlife poaching remains one of the biggest threats to Assam’s endangered one-horned rhinoceros population . Rhinos are often killed for their horns, which are illegally trafficked in international black markets due to myths about their medicinal value and use as status symbols in some countries.

Conservationists and wildlife experts have repeatedly stated that rhino horn has no proven medicinal benefits . Unlike elephant tusks, which are made of ivory, rhino horns are primarily composed of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails.

Under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, poaching of endangered species such as rhinos attracts stringent punishment . Offenders can face imprisonment ranging from three to seven years , along with heavy fines. Repeat offenders may face stricter penalties under wildlife crime provisions.

Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos and has long been at the centre of anti-poaching efforts by forest authorities.