Assam reports zero rhino poaching in 2022

In 2022, no rhino poaching incidents were recorded in Assam.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the public of the good news on the first day of the year 2023, on Sunday.

GP Singh, Special DGP of Assam, shared data on rhino poaching cases in the state on Twitter, saying: “Our efforts to combat rhino poaching have shown positive results. Poachers did not kill a single rhino in Assam in 2022. The most recent such occurrence occurred on December 28, 2021, at Hilkund, Kohora, Golaghat district. Our anti-poaching activities will continue.”

The special DGP released data on rhino poaching in the state since 2000. According to his supplied statistics, the most poaching occurred in 2013 and 2014, with 27 incidents each.

The number of rhinos killed by poachers in 2015 and 2016 was 17 and 18, respectively, before dropping to two in 2020 and 2021 and zero in 2022.

Poaching of rhinos was common in the past, but it has since decreased as a result of the authorities’ tight monitoring and other enhanced security measures.

Assam is well-known for its one-horned rhinoceros, and the state attracts a considerable number of tourists who come to see these animals.

According to the most recent census statistics released by the national park management, Kaziranga National Park presently has 2,613 rhinos, and their numbers are growing.

The Assam government publicly burned a stockpile of 2,479 rhino horns in September 2022 to send a strong message to poachers that rhino horns have neither medical or monetary value.