Indian State Of Assam Issues Shoot-On-Sight Orders Against Rhino Poachers - AFP

[hatrack]

An Indian state has ordered the wardens of a national wildlife park to shoot poachers of endangered one-horned rhinos on sight, officials said Monday. "A massive anti-poaching operation has been launched with orders issued to shoot-on-sight any unauthorised person inside Kaziranga's premises," Rockybul Hussain, northeastern Assam state's forest minister, told AFP in the reserve.

Six rhinos have been killed by poachers in the 430-square-kilometre (166-square-mile) Kaziranga park since January, including two in the past 10 days.

Hussain said he had deployed 50 rangers and 30 soldiers for anti-poaching operations in Kaziranga, home to an estimated 1,855 rhinos.

Experts believe the rhino's horns, which are purportedly an aphrodisiac, are smuggled to China or sold in other clandestine Asian markets. Buyers from the Middle East also use the horns to make ornamental dagger handles. Estimates suggest the horns can sell for up to 35,000 dollars per kilogramme (2.2 pounds).

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Indian_State_To_Shoot_Rhino_Poachers_On_Sight_999.html

[JackintheGreen]

1. Can you identify a poacher on sight alone?

If so, I say good! Poachers are bastards to the core.