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Poachers pluck horn without killing rhino in Nepal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-05 11:49

KATHMANDU -- In a rare incident, poachers plucked a rhino horn without killing the animal in the Chitwan National Park in central Nepal a few days ago, The Kathmandu Post reported on Thursday.

A photo released by the South African National Parks Authorities on January 16, 2009 shows a rhino killed for his horn.  [Agencies]

According to the daily, the incident came to light after a tour guide spotted an injured rhinoceros without its horn near a checkpost in the park, some 85 km south of Kathmandu, on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses said the rhino had been frequenting the Mayur Lake in the area to drink water and kill the pain emanating from injuries it sustained at the hands of poachers.

"Never before had we come across this kind of incident in the park," said a park official, adding that poachers often kill rhinos for the sake of its horn.

"Timely treatment can save the injured male rhino," said Bashu Bidari, a member of the Bird Conservation Nepal, who also saw the injured rhino.

According to the report, locals smell a rat in all this, noting that the rhino was robbed of its horn near a security post. There are 45 security checkposts in the park. A census conducted a year ago at the park had put the number of rhinos at 408.