Guwahati/IBNS: For the first time in the last two decades, Assam has witnessed zero rhino poaching incidents in the year 2022, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said.

Sharing the data of year-wise rhino poaching incidents in the state, GP Singh, Special DGP of Assam said that, the state had witnessed two each rhino poaching incidents in the years 2021 and 2020.

“3 rhino poaching incidents were reported in 2019, 7 in 2018, 6 in 2017, and 18 in 2016. In 2015, 17 rhino poaching incidents were reported in the state while 27 such incidents were reported in 2014,” GP Singh said.

According to the data, 109 rhino poaching incidents were taken place in the state during the period from 2000 to 2013.

The data shared by GP Singh showed that 27 rhino poaching incidents were reported in the state in 2013.

With 2895 rhinos, Assam is home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros in India.

In last year's census report, the rise in rhino population in the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve has gone up to 2613.