Poachers kill endangered rhinos near Indian sanctuary

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

GUWAHATI, India (AFP) — Poachers shot dead two endangered one-horned rhinos fleeing a flooded Indian wildlife sanctuary, taking the number killed this year into double figures, officials said Tuesday.

The poachers took away the animal's horns after using silenced light automatic rifles to kill them near the Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.

"The two rhinos killed were among hundreds of animals that have fled the sanctuary to take shelter in highlands and some strayed away to nearby human settlement areas making them vulnerable to poachers," park warden S.N. Buragohain told AFP by telephone.

Poachers have killed at least 12 one-horned rhinos this year at the sanctuary, which lies some 220 kilometres (140 miles) east of...