Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam, India, last week lost its 18th rhino so far this year. Authorities believe 4 to 6 poachers were involved in the killing of two rhinos this past Wednesday early morning. Only one of them had its horn sawed off. According to official estimates, Assam currently has 2,552 rhinos, of which 2,329 live in Kaziranga. The central government has turned down a proposal for aerial surveillance of the Kaziranga National Park by drones. “We had submitted a proposal to the central government for surveillance by an unmanned aerial vehicle. But it has been turned down for security reasons,” said Assam’s forest minister Rockeybul Hussain. Hussain later added that they had requested the ministry to review the decision. He also explained that they have plans to erect a solar-powered electric fence at a 50-km stretch of Kaziranga to prevent rhinos from straying out of the park. "Wildlife experts normally suggest that the free movement of wildlife should not be obstructed. However, we are planning to erect removable fencing in certain areas through which the rhinos stray outside the park and fall prey to poachers," he said. "We will select locations after consultations with experts and wildlife NGOs who are working in Kaziranga for conservation," he said. (Source : DAN)