Guwahati: A rhino poaching attempt was foiled in the Biswanath wildlife division of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve late Saturday night after forest officials, acting on specific intelligence, intensified patrolling in the eastern range’s Gamari area.KNPTR director Sonali Ghosh said patrolling staff spotted a suspect near Gonati forest camp around 10.30pm carrying what appeared to be a packed firearm. “A joint team comprising staff from the Eastern and Crime Investigation Range, along with assistant conservator of forests (ACFs) Gautam Timung and Utpal Borah, range officer Debashis Dutta, and the divisional forest officer (DFO), launched an immediate pursuit to apprehend the suspect. However, the individual managed to flee under the cover of darkness,” the park director said.Officials said the suspect escaped by taking advantage of the terrain and poor visibility, but a search of the area led to some recoveries. “We had recovered parts of a .315 rifle and a pair of shoes believed to belong to the fleeing individual,” Timung said.Further combing of the area led to the recovery of a black bag containing additional rifle components, 13 rounds of live ammunition, a mobile phone and other items, officials said. Authorities believe the materials were meant for poaching, pointing to a planned attempt.Forest officials said the recovered items have provided crucial leads and efforts are on to identify and arrest the suspect. The search operation is continuing in the area.Calling it another success in anti-poaching operations, officials said they remain committed to protecting wildlife in the park. Kaziranga, home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, remains a major focus of conservation efforts, with surveillance and intelligence-based operations central to preventing poaching threats.
