Pabitora:
Five rhinos have been killed in Assam in the first five weeks of this year. However, Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary has been able to combat poaching.
One more rhino killed in Kaziranga National Park and more than two dozen have been killed in Assam in the past year. However, Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary which is a rhino habitat similar to Kaziranga and Orang and has the same infrastructure problems, has been able to achieve zero poaching record in the last four years. If Pabitora can why cant the others?
The rhino is an easy prey for a poacher.
Alam, a surrendered poacher says, "A kilogram of rhino horn can fetch us to 10 lakh rupees but the booty is divided in so many parts that we get nothing. The police has to be given even the SP. If we get 5 lakhs we give him 2.5 lakhs. Without the police the poachers can't operate." There are fourteen others like him who roamed these grasses for a kill. They claim to have poached more than sixty rhinos in Pabitora alone.
It is the intelligence network of these poachers that helps the authorities track poaching rackets. With 84 rhinos in a tiny area of 38 sq kms the pressure is always on but this army of surrendered poachers is the deterrent that works in anti-poaching operations. They get very little in return but are happy to payback.