Eastern Assam’s Bokakhat , the headquarter of the Kaziranga National park and Tiger Reserve, has witnessed an unique event on wednesday when the ‘world largest stockpile’ of rhino horns was consigned to flames. The event that took place to commemorate the World Rhino Day was planned as a symbolic message at dispelling myths about rhino horns for centuries. Rhinos have long been recognised as one of the most endangered animals walking on the earth and that is mainly due to the high demand associated with rhino horns.
According to the officials, 2,479 of the total 2,623 horns placed in 12 district treasuries since 1979 were burnt in a stadium in Bokakhat. The pyres were lit through drones. Among the horns burnt there were also those recovered from poachers and smugglers. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma who was there to inaugurate the event commented ” We organised this event to convey to the world that rhino horns are just a mass of compacted hair and they have no medical value. we urge people not to kill these rare animals or buy their horns based on superstitions or myths”.
