Guwahati, Sept. 11: India has been asked to remain vigilant in efforts to combat rhino poaching in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks and curtail the illegal rhino horn trade, says CITES. The report says: "From 2010 to June 2012, Assam lost 40 rhinos to poaching, including seven rhinos translocated to Manas National Park under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 programme. Post-CoP16, poaching in Assam increased to a high of 41 animals in 2013 but then decreased to 30 and then 20 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. On rhino horn trade routes, the report says cross-border trade into Myanmar has become the primary route from Assam, which was earlier from Nepal, according to investigations by the Asian Rhino Specialist Group. The report says India still lacks a national rhino strategy, with conservation currently coordinated at the state level in Assam, Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Source: The Telegraph September 11, 2016 21:00 UTC