Not poaching, rhino killed in infighting in Kaziranga, nasal bone and part of horn found intact

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 23, 2024

The female rhino, the carcass of which was found at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) on Saturday was killed in infighting with another male rhino and not for poaching or bullet injuries, park authorities confirmed here on Saturday.

The carcass of the rhino with severe facial injury marks and deep wounds was found on the western side of the Tunikati anti-poaching camp in the Burapahar range of the park on Friday.

KNPTR field director Sonali Ghosh refuted the media report claiming that the rhino was found dead with its horn severed by poachers at the park. 

“These reports are fallacious and inaccurate,” Ghosh said in a statement here. 

“An adult male rhino carcass was detected in the early hours of Saturday by the forest patrolling staff at the western side of Tunikati Anti-poaching Camp under Burapahar Range, Ghorakati, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. The rhino had severe facial injury marks and deep wounds which were later confirmed in the post-mortem conducted as incisor wounds inflicted by another male rhino due to infighting,” Ghosh said. 

“The nasal bone and part of the horn were found to be intact. No bullet injury was detected during the examination. The rhino is estimated to be past its prime at more than 25 years and had likely lost its battle to a younger, stronger male,” Ghosh also said.

“In cases of poaching, bullet injuries along with cutting of the nasal bone are commonly found,” she said.

“The facial injury and wounds were confirmed in the post-mortem examination as incisor wounds inflicted by another male rhino during the fighting,” she added.

During fact-checking of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), it was found that the rhino was killed due to infighting with another rhino and not for the cause of poaching.