Assam to destroy stored rhino horns

Assam to destroy stored rhino horns

Part of: Prelims and GS – III – Conservation

In news Assam’s Environment and Forest Department has decided to destroy the rhinoceros horns, elephant tusks (ivory) and body parts of other protected animals stored in the district treasuries.

• About 5% of the specimens would be preserved for education, awareness and scientific purposes.
• The destruction of the horns and other animal articles would be in conformity with a relevant section of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• A State-level committee has been constituted for this purpose and a public hearing will be held soon.

Background 

• The Assam government had in 2016 constituted the Rhino Horn Verification Committee to study the specimens kept in 12 treasuries. 
• The exercise was a bid to allay public apprehensions about tampering and allegations that officials were illegally trading the horns collected from dead rhinos or retrieved from poachers and smugglers.

News source: TH