Kaziranga National Park guards now equipped with satellite phones to prevent rhino poachers

Handing over of the satellite phones. Image: Twitter/@kaziranga_

Bobins Abraham, India Times | August 12, 2021

With an aim to strengthen its fight against poaching, the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has become the first in India to provide satellite phones to its guards.

The decision to provide satellite phones to KNP guards was taken by the Assam government in May and 10 such devices were handed over by Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah to the park authorities on Tuesday.

The forest personnel will use the satellite phones in six ranges of the UNESCO world heritage site where mobile connectivity is poor.

The initiative will be of tremendous help in curbing rhino poaching in the park, the officials said.

Kaziranga is perhaps the first in the country to get satellite phones for its forest personnel, they said. This facility is generally used by security and law enforcement agencies.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) procured the satellite phones for the park at an estimated cost of Rs.16 lakh.

The satellite phones will give an edge to the forest personnel over the poachers and also during emergencies like a flood,” Assam Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said.

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