Inert rhinos rise from ashes at Kaziranga

The remains of a stockpile of 2,479 horns burnt in September 2021 were used for building three life-size statues to serve as a memorial to the herbivore and the forest guards that protect it

Three lifeless rhinos have risen from the ashes of the most conspicuous part of the herbivore in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday unveiled a memorial to the greater one-horned rhino and the forest guards the 1,300 sq. km tiger reserve owes its existence to.

The ash collected from the burning of a stockpile of 2,479 rhino horns was used in the concrete mix to create the life-size rhinos – a 10.5 ft long and 6 ft tall male, an 11 ft by 5.6 ft female and a 3.5 ft by 1.5 ft calf.

“History was created when hundreds of rhino horns, stored in 12 treasuries across the State for decades, were consigned to flames on September 22, 2021, to send a strong signal to those involved in illegal wildlife trade,” Mr. Sarma said.

The stockpile of horns was also burnt to demonstrate that rhino horns have no medicinal value, he added.

“The ash collected has been used to create these three rhinos immortalising the efforts of those who selflessly protect Assam’s rhinos,” the Chief Minister said.