Following the recent spurt in killing of one-horned rhinos in Orang National Park (ONP) that resulted in deaths of two rhinos on April 20 and 21, one more rhino was killed in the park on the night of April 27. Meanwhile, members of the All Darrang District Students' Union (ADDSU) staged a dharna in front of the office of the DFO, Orang Wildlife Division at Mangaldai yesterday demanding an immediate stop in killing of rhinos. Today, a nine-member team of a high-level committee formed by the State Government in view of the recent killing of rhinos visited Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, KNP and ONP to make an on-the-spot assessment to find out the circumstances leading to the increased incidents of killing. However, the conscious circle here has expressed doubt over the transparency of this high-level committee as they made their visit to three protected areas within a day. As reported earlier, on the nights of April 26 and 27, the staff of the park on duty, hearing three gunshots at Hati camp area, and cordoned off the area and retaliated, which compelled the poachers to flee away under the cover of darkness. After a thorough search operation, the staff on April 29 recovered a full-grown male rhino lying dead in that area. Significantly, due to the resistance put up by the staff, like in case of the previous two killings, the poachers failed to take away the horn. In the news report published in The Sentinel dated April 27, it was mentioned that following the intensified operation against the poachers in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) the poachers have diverted their operation to ONP. Yet the failure on the part on the State Government and the Forest Department to ensure any protective measures here in ONP have resulted in the killing of another rhino. Meanwhile, following widespread resentment both in national and international level over the increasing incidents of killing of rhinos in ONP, Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain has reportedly instructed the Forest Department to conduct an inquiry into the recent killing of rhinos in ONP, and accordingly Abhijit Rabha, Conservator of Forests (HQ), Wildlife, on April 26 visited the park and submitted a detailed report to the Government. Though the findings of the report is yet to be known, it was learnt that Abhijit Rabha expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of staff and suggested that the Government should increase the strength of the park immediately, be it on deputation from other wings of the Forest Department. He also made another important point for creation of six floating forest beats on the Brahmaputra and its two tributaries Dhansiri and Panchnoi, which are flowing along the southern, western and eastern boundaries, which are treated as comparatively safe passages to the park as the staff of the park are not well equipped to carry out patrolling duty in these river ways. The lack of the buffer zone between the fringe villages and the park is another factor that has been paving the way for poachers, he reportedly pointed out in his report. It may be noted here that the existing staff is not at all sufficient to guard the park. Even more, this sanctioned staff is facing a shortage of 19 personnel. These are seven forest guards, one head game watcher, three game watchers, one boatman, three mahout, one grass cutter, one driver, one accountant and one upper division assistant. What is more interesting that the park is functioning without an Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) since the creation of this Division in 1990. Meanwhile, various non-government organizations working for the conservation of wildlife have accused the State Government for its failure in taking up a clear policy in conservation. They have expressed utter surprise over the fact that the officials and employees serving in the other wings of the Forest Department are not willing to get their transfer and posting in the wildlife wing. Originally, there was a rule that all forest personnel should serve for at least three years in the wildlife wing. But as the wildlife wing has no scope to earn