2479 horns of dead rhinos lit on fire in Assam
Guwahati: On the occasion of the 'World Rhino Day', Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma performed the ‘Daha Sanskar’ ( lighting fire) ritual for dead rhinos, 2479 horns burned to send a strong message against poaching.
The Chief Minister after lighting the pyre through a drone, said, "Today is a historic day for Assam and India. We have taken an extraordinary step of burning stockpile of 2479 horns of single-horned Rhinos, first-of-its-kind globally in volume terms, pursuing the vision of Hon PM Sri Narendra Modi of putting an end to poaching in Assam."
"One-horned rhino is not only integral to our civilisation, but also a symbol of our prized heritage and identity. We are preserving 94 rhino horns for display at a museum to be set up at Kaziranga National Park. The use of rhinos' horns for medicinal purposes is a myth, " Sarma said in a tweet.
According to Hindustan Times, 2,479 horns weighing around 1300kg, which had been seized from poachers and illegal traders or recovered from dead rhinos in the state’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries since 1979, were burnt in six large pyres at a stadium in Bokakhat, 240 km east of Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Assam government's efforts. He said in a tweet, " Commendable effort by Team Assam. The One-Horned Rhino is India’s pride and all steps will be taken for its well-being".
