Poachers chop off the horn from a live Rhino in Kaziranga, amidst flood chaos

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In a gruesome incident on Wednesday, poachers have sawed away the horn of an Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at the Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam, even while the animal was alive. 

The female rhino has strayed into the east division of the Karbi Anglong hills in neighboring district to evade the raising flood waters in the park and was shot down by the poachers on Wednesday morning, said forest officials. 

An Indian one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis 

According to them, by the time they found it, the horn and a part of the right ear of the animals was brutally chopped off, while it was alive. Now, veterinary doctors are trying hard to save the Rhino, they said. Officials have also found another dead rhino with chopped away horns on Wednesday, according to a PTI report.

The incident has sparked wide protest in the state. Locals including members of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and All Assam Students Union have blockaded the National Highway 37 to protest the attack. According to forest officials in the park, 13 rhinos were killed by poachers since January this year. The park is home to around 2500 of the only remaining 3000 one horned rhinoceros on the globe, which are categorized as Vulnerable by IUCN.

Three fourth of the park submerged

Meanwhile, the third wave of flood has so far killed 22 animals in the park, which includes 4 rhinos, apart from those killed by the poachers. 75 percent of the national park in submerged under the flood waters from incessant rains. Apart from the deaths from drowning, road kills also increase during the flood season in Kazirnaga as animals try to cross the NH 37 to evade flood waters. At least four animals were killed so far by speeding vehicles after the current wave of floods hit the park, informed DFO.

Earlier waves of flood at Kaziranga have killed 631 animals including 19 rhinos in August, while 36 animals were victims to road kill during the period.