Assam: Kaziranga honours 82-member Special Rhino Protection Force for anti-poaching efforts

The Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF), deployed in Kaziranga National Park to strengthen the fight against rhino poaching, was honoured at a special programme held in the national park on Saturday, August 8.

Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and Keshab Mahanta attended the programme, which recognised the contribution of frontline personnel involved in protecting the park's one-horned rhinoceros population.

The 82-member SRPF was deployed in Kaziranga in 2019 following extensive training, as authorities sought to strengthen the park's anti-poaching mechanism.

Kaziranga had faced a severe rhino poaching crisis in the past, with 27 rhinos killed by poachers in each of 2013 and 2014. The high number of killings prompted authorities to adopt a more specialised and coordinated approach to rhino protection.

The deployment of the SRPF marked a significant step towards strengthening dedicated protection for the greater one-horned rhinoceros, a flagship species of Kaziranga.

Since then, anti-poaching operations in the park have increasingly focused on intelligence gathering, coordinated surveillance and targeted enforcement. The SRPF has worked alongside the Forest Department, Assam Police and other enforcement agencies to patrol vulnerable areas, collect intelligence and respond to potential threats.

The force has also played a role in strengthening the frontline security network inside the national park, contributing to sustained efforts to prevent rhino poaching.

The recognition of the SRPF personnel comes as Kaziranga continues to strengthen its protection mechanisms for its rhino population and maintain sustained vigilance against organised wildlife crime.