About 2,500 seized rhino horns burnt on Assam Mark World Rhinoceros Day. Decision to destroy rhino horn at public function
by Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati : World Rhinoceros Day is being observed today. On this special occasion, the Government of Assam, known for its one-horned rhinoceros, has burnt 2,500 rhino horns to ashes in a public ceremony. The way it has been decided to burn the horn this time has never happened in this world before. Assam government today publicly marked 2500 seized rhino horns at Bokakhat in Golaghat district of Assam on the occasion of World Rhinoceros Day. Rhino horns were seized from poachers and collected from dead rhinos in the state. However, on the occasion of World Rhinoceros Day on September 22, 2021, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India released a ‘National Conservation Strategy’ for conservation of one horned rhinos. India ranks first in the world in terms of number of one-horned rhinos.
Assam (Kaziranga and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary) is the most concentration of its population in India in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.Wednesday is World Rhinoceros Day. The number of one horned rhinos in India is very small. The species is found only in Dudhwa in UP after Kaziranga National Park in Assam. It looks very shocking. But, you will be surprised to know that even those who work to conserve this beautiful wild animal are appreciating the move of the Himanta Biswa Sarma Government. The burning of these rhino horns, which have been preserved in government stores for decades, was announced only after a meeting of the state cabinet last week. Earlier, the forest department had completed the re-examination and counting of those horns. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was the chief guest at the rhinoceros horn burning event.
Speaking at the event, CM Sarma said that the government’s surprising move is to raise awareness and send a message to poachers as well as the general public that rhino horn has no value when you kill the thinking of foreign animals of high value in the illegal market. In fact, a step like burning rhino horns has been taken in front of the people to send a message to poachers and smugglers that these things are of no value. About this, Assam Chief Wildlife Warden MK Yadava said, “(The aim is to break myths about rhino horns). …….. It is a direct and clear message to poachers and smugglers that such things have no value. It may be recalled that people engaged in illegal trade in rhino horns are willing to play with the lives of these innocent people.
Rhinoceros is hunted for horns because of a variety of myths in illegal markets that cost it a face. According to a release issued by the forest department, “rhino horn powder is used in a variety of traditional Chinese medicine, ranging from cancer to hangovers and aphrodisiacs to a variety of diseases. In Vietnam, it is considered a symbol of prestige to have rhino horns. According to it, “Rhino hunters are always active because of demand from these countries, and they have to be monitored at all times. According to officials, no objection was lodged by the public during the hearing in the Guwahati High Court last month. India has signed the CETES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fountain), said Bibhab Talukdar, Chairman and Secretary General, Ngo Aranyak, Chairman and CEO and Secretary General, Asian Rhino Specialist Group, International Union for the Conservation of Natures. He says, “It is illegal to sell horns in the country anyway, so instead of rotting horns in stores, the decision to burn it will send a clear message that it is not a drug. Chief Minister Sarma further said that the medicinal properties of the rhino body are a myth and poachers should not harm the animal for this reason.
Rhino horns from Barpeta, Tezpur, Morigaon, Mangaldoi, Kohora Barpeta, Nagaon, BTR and Golaghat have been deposited in bokakhata treasury.State Forest Minister Parimal Shulabhaiyya and other Cabinet Ministers were also present at the event. Assam Police has seized about 2,479 rhino horns, out of which 2,623 horns were destroyed and 94 were decided to be preserved. It needs to be mentioned that the State Government has decided to preserve 94 horns as pieces of heritage while 50 will be stored for court related purposes. One horned rhinoceros of Assam are india’s most valuable asset. The rhino species was declared under threat in 1975 following an increase in rhino hunting in Assam.
