Assam CM declares "would not allow any… " after rhino is struck by truck in Kaziranga

• Image Credit: Internet

• Oct 9, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

 Digital
Desk: The rhinoceros hit by a truck in Kaziranga on Saturday has survived,
according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. According to Sarma, the
government is working on a "special 32-km elevated corridor" after
the truck was stopped and fined.

The Assam CM stated in a tweet that
"Rhinos are our special pals; we'll not allow any trespass on their
space."

"The Rhino survived this tragic
occurrence at Haldibari; the car was stopped and fined. In the meantime, we're
working on a unique 32-km elevated corridor as part of our commitment to saving
wildlife at Kaziranga," he continued, posting a video of the incident.

Though the vehicle tries to
avoid hitting the rhino by suddenly changing lanes, but is unsuccessful in
doing so. After being struck by the truck, the rhino attempts to get off the
road by standing up, but it falls again. The rhino leaves the road on its
second attempt while clearly injured.

The event happened in Haldibari
Animal Corridor while the vehicle was traveling from Jorhat to Guwahati,
according to local media sources. The transport and forest departments
reportedly found the vehicle in the Bagari neighborhood in the Nagaon district and
significantly penalized it.

Last month, Jagadish Vasudev, often known as Sadhguru, and
Sarma came under fire for reportedly going on a late-night vehicle safari
inside the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR).

The scheduling of the safari, according to
environmentalists, violated the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and put park
animals at risk.

According to the most recent census, which was published in
March of this year, the number of one-horned rhinos in Assam's Kaziranga
National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has climbed by 200 during the past four
years. The greatest population of one-horned rhinos is found in KNPTR, where
there are 2613 of them.