“2022 was really special for our rhino conservation efforts. Not a single rhino being poached in 2022 & just 2 in 2021, the gentle giant is now much safer in Assam. Kudos to @assamforest dept & @assampolice for their sincere efforts to protect the iconic animal,” tweeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
More to say, Special DGP, Assam G P Singh also tweeted, “Anti Rhino poaching efforts have yielded spectacular results. There has been no rhino poaching in Assam in Year 2022. Last poaching was on Dec 28th 2021 at Hilakunda, kohora in Golaghat district. We would strive to keep the graph flat.” All these comes good for not only animal lovers but for the whole nation and the world.
TOUGH ACTION
It was strict action by armed commandos and forest personnel of Assam led to zero poaching year. Moreover, the use of technology also helped the state achieve the target during 2022. The state achieved this fete after a gap of more than two decades.
The state government in June 2021 set up a 22-member task force headed by special director General of police (law and order) GP Singh, and deployed armed commandos for vigil and strict action against poachers. The task force was comprised of senior forest officers and SPs of at least 11 districts (Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Baksa,Chirang, Barpeta and Majuli) and divisional forest officers (six wildlife division).
