Two rhino poachers slaughtered in bitter gun battle at Indian wildlife sanctuary



Two men killed after a gun fight between the poachers and forest rangers

Killed for their horn, which is extremely valuable and rivals their price in gold

Poachers killed 21 rhinos in Kaziranga National Park last year

Two rhino poachers have been shot dead at an Indian wildlife sanctuary.



The men were caught after Indian Forest rangers heard them trying to shoot the animals in Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Northeastern India.



The pair were killed after a gun fight between the poachers and forest rangers.

Killed: A dead rhino, who was killed by heavy exchange of fire between a group of five poachers and forest guards is seen at Sundari Camp at Kaziranga National Park

Shot dead: The two men were killed after a gun fight between the poachers and forest rangers. Rhinos, left in file photo, are killed for their horn, which are extremely valuable and rival their price in gold



Rhinos are killed for their horn, which are extremely valuable and rival their price in gold.

Officials said that four poachers had entered the park had shot at a rhino.

The shot, which missed its target, alerted forest guards who rushed to the spot.

'A fierce encounter took place between the two sides in which two of the poachers were killed,' park warden N.K. Vasu told AFP, adding that a rifle had been recovered.



Targets: Forest guards examining a dead rhino killed by poachers at the famous Kaziranga National Park. Poachers killed 21 rhinos in the park last year

Epidemic: Poachers killed a rhino and took away the horn at Burhapahar Range in Kaziranga National Park on January 28

Problem: Last week forest rangers engaged in a gun battle with poachers for more than seven hours, but they failed to prevent the killing of another rhino whose valuable horn was gouged out

India's location and array of wildlife makes it particularly susceptible to poachers who can easily export the goods.

The horns are than usually smuggled to neighboring China, where it is used as medicine and jewellery.



Poachers killed 21 rhinos in Kaziranga National Park last year.



An estimated 2,500 out of the world's 3,000 one-horned rhinos live in Kaziranga.

Last week forest rangers engaged in a gun battle with poachers for more than seven hours, but they failed to prevent the killing of another rhino whose valuable horn was gouged out.



An operation is currently ongoing in the nearby Karbi Anglong hills, in which several poachers have been arrested. The poachers are thought to have links with traders in Nagaland and Burma.











