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To Protect Rhinos, This National Park Just Shoots People (50 Poachers Killed So Far)

Kaziranga National Park is a story of success when it comes to conservation of rhinos – but what they’ve done to achieve it is allowing its workers to shoot and even kill potential poachers. So far, the park has killed 50 people.

Rhinos are safe there – a century ago, there was only a handful of Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Now, the park hosts more than 2,400, which is two-thirds of the world’s population. However, little is talked about the fact that in 2015, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers.

These people all went after rhino horn, as they could be sold for as much as $6,000 for 100g and are considerably more expensive than gold. They are mostly marketed as a miracle cure for everything from cancer to erectile dysfunction.

So yes, rhinos do need protection, but this has gone too far. National park’s workers can kill a person and get away with impunity. The question is, could this kind of punishment ever be justified? And how many innocent people were killed?

More info: Kaziranga National Park (h/t: bbc)

Kaziranga National Park is a story of success when it comes to conservation of rhinos – but they kill poachers

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-12

Image credits: PA

So far, the park has killed 50 people

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-3

Image credits: EPA

Rhinos are safe there – a century ago, there was only a handful of Indian one-horned rhinoceros

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-2

Image credits: Anupam Nath

Now, the park hosts more than 2,400, which is two-thirds of the world’s population

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-7

Image credits: Jonas Stenqvist

However, more people were shot dead by park guards then the number of rhinos killed by poachers

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-6

Image credits: PA

These people all went after rhino horn, as they could be sold for as much as $6,000 for 100g

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-15

Image credits: Emma Gatland

They are mostly marketed as a miracle cure for everything from cancer to erectile dysfunction

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-9

Image credits: Rudi Hulshof

So yes, rhinos do need protection, but this has gone too far

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-13

Image credits: Martin Harvey

National park’s workers can kill a person and get away with impunity

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-10

Image credits: Sebastien Degardin

The question is, could this kind of punishment ever be justified?And how many innocent people were killed?

national-park-shoots-people-protects-rhinos-kaziranga-11

Image credits: Michael Spain

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What do you think ?

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Tiffany Kraha 7 years ago

Poachers know the risks when they try to kill endangered species. Something has got to be done. This isn't too far.

455points

Brian Kemboi 7 years ago

Juan, I live in Kenya, Africa. People do not poach these animals for meat. No one does it not for close to 30 years now. The motivation is always the horns. Elephants are killed, de-horned and the carcass decompose. No one takes the meat. Currently, Kenya has the last three northern white rhinoes and they are past the point of reproduction. If such measures were taken, maybe these rhinoes would not be in this situation.

276points

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Sweep the Leg 7 years ago

Juan, there is ALWAYS a choice. Poaching isn't the only option. By this logic, all highly illegal activities should be justified if needed to feed families- drug dealers, child traffickers, those who buy and sell in sex slavery ... these people should be protected because they are making ends meet?

33points

BlueEyedBadess 7 years ago

Yay they are not innocent they should die I'm on the parks side

27points

Dan Srdjan 7 years ago

As I human being I approve this method!

25points

Mayla Oliveira 7 years ago

Totally agree. By the way, I cannot see poachers as innocent people, like they said.

17points

LunaPandaz 7 years ago

Yes they should now the ricks when they try to kill one and so this is definitely not too far

15points

Longino Giorda 7 years ago

no is not. poachers do for their profit, therefore shoot them is not a homicide but protect creatures that are slaughtered for their horns , that allegedly cure sickess (of course there is no scientific proof of that ),and considering the cost of the powder are not dying the poor people but only the wealthy ones can afford such.

4points

Juan 7 years ago

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Prashant Karnath 7 years ago

I am human... and I approve this approach.

372points

Don Zirbel 7 years ago

YES I want them to be killed...they respect nothing but personal profit and care nothing about the rest of life that shares this planet. They themselves have proven there is no other way to stop them, so they can rot on the ground for all I care.

110points

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