In Assam, the death of 39 rhinos in and around the world-famous Kaziranga National Park in less than 10 months , has brought to the fore the threat faced by the endangered animal.

The threat comes from poachers, who kill the rare one-horned rhinoceros for its prized horn whose price in the international market varies from 40 lakh to 90 lakh rupees, and also from flood which is an annual occurrence in Assam. Early last month, the poachers killed five rhinos in four days, taking advantage of the flood waters that submerged 90 per cent of the UNESCO world heritage site.

The poachers in the most gruesome act, removed the animals' horns and left them to bleed to death while the forest guards failed to have an inkling.

 The poaching is blamed mostly on illegal Bangladeshi migrants while not ruling out the involvement of militants of the Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers. Coupled with the rampant poaching, is the lack of adequate staff in the heritage sanctuary and equipment with the state forest department.

The Kaziranga National Park boasts of a 2,290-strong rhino population as per the last census conducted this year. Assam Forest Minister Rakibul Hussain confirmed the killing of 11 rhinos by poachers, including six inside the park, and five in the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district where the animals shifted to escape the flooded forest. He also said that another 28 rhinos drowned in the floods during the year. Mr. Hussain said, the state government has taken adequate steps to deal with the spurt in poaching which include recommending a CBI inquiry into poaching cases during the last three years and deployment of Army and central para military forces in areas adjoining the national park to foil the attempts of poachers.

He said that a hundred-member team of the elite Assam Forest Protection Force for the protection of the animal has been sent to the Park.