Poison scare after cattle death near Kaziranga

File picture of forest guards at Kaziranga National Park

Guwahati, Sept. 10: Poisoned grass on the fringes of Kaziranga National Park has killed five cattle, raising fears that it was only time before the real targets — rhinos and tigers — would fall prey to this new poaching method.

Rhinos and other animals frequently stray into the Baghmari area near the Burapahar range of the park where the cattle died.

“Fortunately no rhino has strayed into the Baghmari area in the past few days, otherwise there would have been a disaster,” the director Kaziranga, S.N. Buragohain, said today, adding that poachers had now discovered a new method to kill animals.

They had sprinkled poison-mixed salt on the grass to attract animals. Herbivorous animals, Buragohain said, are attracted to the smell of salt.

Post-mortem reports of the cattle confirmed poisoning as the case of death.

The park director said had tigers consumed the dead cattle, it would have led to certain death, going by the heavy dose of poison.

The area has been put under tight vigil and forest guards have been deployed to keep the park’s animals away from the area.

Buragohain said poachers have been found to adopt various methods to kill the rhino for its horn.

“Poison appears to be the new weapon in their arsenal,” he said.

Although the “pit-trap” is the most common technique along with shooting, the poachers have also taken help of high-tension power lines to kill rhinos.

They lay wires connected to high-tension power lines on paths frequently used by the animals.

Following an increase in rhino poaching at Kaziranga last year, the park authorities have taken several measures.

“We have increased the number of forest guards and anti-poaching camps have also been set up in new areas to add teeth to security measures. And since poachers are finding it difficult to enter the park, they are coming up with these new ideas to lure rhinos out of the park and poison the animals,” the director said.

Villagers living in the vicinity of the park often help poachers in return of money, another park official said.

“These villagers also pass on information to poachers regarding movement of rhinos,” the official said.

“A few villagers are under the scanner and we are investigating the matter,” he said.