Guwahati, February 8 : Poachers killed 52 one horned rhinos in Assam in last three years.
Replying to a query by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam in the ongoing budget session of Assam assembly, Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma on Thursday said that, 52 rhinos were killed by poachers in the state since 2015 while 316 poachers were arrested in last years.
The Assam minister said that, poachers killed 21 rhinos in 2015, while 22 were poached in 2016 and 9 in 2017.
Poachers killed 28 rhinos alone in Kaziranga National Park during the period.
Pramila Rani Brahma further said that, a total of 316 poachers were arrested across the state during the period.
On the other hand altogether 671 people have been killed in man-animal conflict in the state in last seven years.
In 2015, altogether 145 people were killed by wild animals (elephant and tiger).
Northern Assam district Sonitpur recorded highest number of human casualties with 135 deaths during the period followed by Udalguri district with 104 deaths and 50 deaths in Goalpara.
On the other hand, 225 wild animals including 170 elephants, 29 leopards, 15 tigers have died in other causes in 2016 and 2017.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
