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Urge Assam to Toughen Laws Against Rhino Poaching

Recently, there has been a steep rise in rhino poaching. This year alone, more than 10 rhinos have been killed by poachers in and around Assam's two rhino habitats. Because of a lapse in security, poachers have had free run of the Kaziranga National Park, where most of the world's remaining one-horned rhinos live. In the past 20 years, nearly 500 of these endangered animals have been killed by poachers.

Operating in gangs run by international rings of wildlife traffickers, poachers kill rhinos for their horns, which are sold to make medicines, aphrodisiacs and decorative dagger handles. Rhino horns are smuggled into markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and can fetch as much as Rs 1.5 million per kilo.

PETA is calling on the Assam government to combat the killing of rhinos by amending the Wildlife Protection Act so that rhino poachers receive longer prison sentences and heftier fines.

You can help these magnificent, endangered animals: ask the Ministry of Forestry to stop the cruel and senseless killing of rhinos in Assam. Urge the Minister to toughen laws so that rhino poachers receive harsher punishment.

Please send polite comments to:

 Shri Rockybul Hussain, Minister of Environment & Forests
Govt of Assam
Assam Sachivalaya Complex
Dispur
Guwahati-781 006

Assam