Assam: Six international gangs of rhino poachers identified; 42 arrests in one year

Guwahati: Police and forest personnel in Assam have identified six gangs of wildlife poachers having international links, and have arrested 42 poachers in the last one year.

These were the outcomes of 'Operation Falcon', a multi-agency operation launched in 2024 following poaching of two rhinos in Kaziranga National Park, the largest home for the unique one-horned rhinos.

A video prepared on 'Operation Falcon' stated that poachers have been chased, using all available resources, from on-ground to digital intelligence as nine poaching attempts had been averted during the period.

A video on the operation was shared on X by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday.

The six gangs have been identified having links with wildlife trade through Myanmar, considered as a major corridor connecting the markets In other South East Asian nations, where rhino horns have demand. Rhino horns are used in preparation of traditional medicines and are also kept as decorative item. Poachers use Manipur-Myanmar border for the illegal trade, according to police officials who investigated rhino poaching cases.

The video showed the police and forest personnel using drones, sniffer dogs and water transport ways to chase the poachers and carry out crackdown during the operation. It said 42 poachers have been arrested--18 in Biswanath, eight in Darrang, six in Nagaon, five in Karbi Anglong, two in Sonitpur and one each in Udalguri, Dibrugarh and Cachar district.

“Operation Falcon will continue till we eliminate poaching from Assam,” the video said.

Poaching of rhinos became a serious concern, particularly in Kaziranga having 2,613 rhinos, 70 per cent of the one-horned rhino population in the world. But a crackdown on poachers since 2016 checked the problem.