A source said at least three shots were fired at the rhino but the poachers failed to take the horn away.
The forest department has launched a massive operation in the area, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, to apprehend the poachers.
“The rhino is under observation, the bullets may not have hit the vital organs," a forest official said.
The forest department had information about poachers planning to target rhinos which have strayed out of the park.
“Since poachers now have the fear of getting caught on cameras installed in the core area of the national park, they are likely to attack rhinos which have strayed out of the park," the official said.
Cameras, which are installed in various locations in the 430 square km core area of the national park during the census of Royal Bengal tigers, captured photographs of least poachers recently.
All these poachers have been identified.
Ulfa yesterday warned poachers that they would be dealt with mercilessly, as the outfit would not tolerate wilful damage and harm of this natural gift to Assam.
Sonitpur police, on the other hand, apprehended two rhino poachers from Sootea yesterday and recovered two .303 rifles, 61 rounds of ammunition, explosives and detonators and Rs 4 lakh in cash. Read the full report here.
Source: by A Staff Reporter, Telegraph, Jorhat.
