<h5>What has happened in Assam?</h5>  <p>In 2022, Assam recorded zero poaching of endangered rhinoceros. Rhinos are famous for their horns, which fetch high prices due to their alleged medicinal value. This is the first time in 45 years that there has been zero poaching of endangered rhinoceros in Assam (yay!). </p>
<p>According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, no rhinos were poached in any of the national parks in Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, or even in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Between 2000 and 2021, 191 rhinos were poached in Assam. There were 27 rhino deaths reported in 2013 and 2014.</p>
<p>In 2020 and 2021, two rhinoceros were killed each year. Since 1977, this is the first time that zero rhino poaching has been reported. Officials said that zero poaching was made possible in 2022 due to various efforts of the state's forest and police departments.
</p> <h5>Why are rhinoceros poached?</h5> <figure>
        <img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/after-many-years-no-rhinos-were-poached-in-assam-in-2022%2Frhino-horns.jpeg?alt=media&token=91bc309a-aa79-41cb-9ee9-51c0b31c9cf4" alt="Why are rhinoceros poached?" >
        <figcaption>Two rhino horns seized from a poacher by the police. Photo by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.</figcaption>
      </figure> <p>Usually, rhinos are killed for their horn. Their horns are sold for thousands of dollars in black markets. The Assam Forest Department has said that these horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a variety of diseases like cancer.</p>
<p>A rhino horn is also considered a status symbol in Vietnam. Due to such demands, poachers try to kill rhinos and poach their horns. Unfortunately, the myth of using rhino horns to make traditional medicine is quite popular. A rhino's horn is made of the same material as human hair and fingernails. </p>
<p>Many scientific studies have proven that there is no medicinal advantage to using rhino horns. Still, the demand for horns remains high in many Asian countries.
</p> <h5>How was zero rhino poaching made possible?</h5> <figure>
        <img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/after-many-years-no-rhinos-were-poached-in-assam-in-2022%2Fshutterstock_1087201349.jpg?alt=media&token=e4fe52aa-bab0-4ddb-9bde-104c29fe65a2" alt="How was zero rhino poaching made possible?" >
        <figcaption>Tourists see a rhino during a safari at Kaziranga National Park in Assam. </figcaption>
      </figure> <p>In 2019, the Assam government set up a Special Rhino Protection Force to stop the poaching of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park. In 2021, the state government formed a 22-member task force with the aim of having zero poaching of rhinos in the state. The task force was made up of senior forest officers and superintendents of police.  </p>
<p>The combined efforts of the forest and police departments have reduced the number of poaching cases. Data on all previous poachers and their current activities were gathered and CCTVs (including night vision) were set up at the entry and exit points of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.</p>
<p>The task force also coordinated with the police from Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur to catch poachers. Many armed commandos have also been stationed to keep a watch for poachers. Drones and dog squads are also being used to track the movement of the poachers.</p>
<p>Since the task force was formed, four poachers have been killed and 58 others have been arrested. The zero poaching of rhinos in 2022 shows that the task force is doing its job well.
</p> <h5>What did we learn from this article?</h5>  <p>We learned that there are many bad people in this world who will do anything for money. But, there are also good people who will stand up to them. They will do everything they can to protect other animals and human beings.</p>
<p>The steps taken by the Assam government to stop the poaching of rhinos must be appreciated. Let’s hope the streak of no-poaching of rhinos continues for the years to come.
</p>

Poachers have always targeted wild animals, especially the endangered Indian rhinos. However, after many years, no rhinos were poached in Assam in all of 2022. Let’s find out what we did right.

After Many Years, No Rhinos Were Poached in Assam in 2022

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