55 Rhinos Killed in 4 Years at Kaziranga National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kaziranga National Park, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, has had at least 55 rhinos killed there in the past 4 years; and that is only the number that is certain.  In response rangers have been cracking down on suspected poachers extremely hard, and local villagers are claiming that they have been staging poaching incidents in the park and killing innocent youths in an attempt to bolster their image.  The allegations came about when villagers from Silveta, which is 35 km outside the park border, claimed that the rangers killed an innocent villager on May 21st and claimed that he was illegally poaching within the park.  Officials later produced 4 individuals whom they claimed to be poachers in the park, but refused to release their names.  Villagers are demanding a fair inquiry into the killings be held and those who are responsible brought to justice.

A rhino mother and her baby in Kaziranga National Park.

A one-horned rhino that was shot and killed in Kaziranga National Park.

A ranger from Kaziranga National Park.

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Chad’s New Elephant Guardians…

Keeping to his promise to ensure that Chad’s elephants fate will not become the same as in its neighboring countries, President Idriss Deby has deployed a highly trained military unit from the Chadian armed forces to aid in the protection of Zakouma National Park and its flora and fauna. This unit is working in conjunction with the existing ranger teams that are currently on the ground.

President Idriss Deby Burying poached Ivory

The legendary Zakouma National Park was created in 1963, and was Chad’s first national park, it has an area of almost 3000 square kilometres (1200 square miles) and  is entirely surrounded by the Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve, which is a conservation area of roughly 20,600 square kilometres.

Zakuma’s Legendary Elephant Herds

For many years Zakouma was neglected during the period of civil conflict, but with the arrival of President Deby to power a restoration has began and is continuing to date. Zakuma boasts in rich  and diverse wildlife population that includes over 44 species of large mammals as well as many species of birds.

Zakouma National Park has been nominated to become a Unesco World Heritage Site.

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