The Assam government is all set to burn 2479 rhino horns on September 22 on the occasion of World Rhino Day.
Preparations are on full swing at Bokakhat in Assam’s Golaghat district to destroy 2479 pieces of rhino horns which are stored in state treasuries.
A top official of the state forest department said that, the steps have been taken following directive of the court and the decision taken by the state government.
Union minister of state for forest and environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey on September 20 said at a press conference in Guwahati that the horns will be burnt on September 22.
The Union minister also said that the initiative taken by the Assam government will deliver an awareness message.
“The central government appreciates this initiative taken by the Assam government. September 22 is World Rhino Day and from that day we will be able to stop illegal horn trade,” Ashwini Kumar Choubey said.
Good morning #Assam! #WorldRhinoDay on 22nd Sept will witness the largest stockpile public destruction of reconciled rhino horns in line with @assamforest’s efforts to bust all myths related to rhino horns under the leadership of HCM Dr.@himantabiswa. @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/cfKGtJkE7z
— Parimal Suklabaidya (@ParimalSuklaba1) September 21, 2021
Earlier on September 16, the Assam cabinet decided that in order to bust the myth about the horns and resultant poaching, out of 2623 rhino horns, 2479 pieces stockpiled in state treasuries to be destroyed in public.
The state cabinet also decided that, 94 horns will be preserved as heritage pieces for academic purposes while 50 horns would be preserved for court cases.
