This is how Kaziranga's famous rhinos are getting protection

At least a dozen rhinos have been poached in Kaziranga in the first six months of this year, more than twice the number killed in the whole of 2006 which has resulted in increased efforts in the protection of one-horned rhinos.

A rescued male rhino calf is fed a bottle of milk by an Indian animalkeeper at The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation facility in Kaziranga National Park. Pic/AFP

As night falls over the lush plains of India's Kaziranga national park, a small group of lightly armed forest guards sets out on foot to protect the world's largest population of one-horned rhinos.

Indian forest rangers walk beside a road as they patrol in Kaziranga National Park. Pic/AFP

These men with their ageing rifles and small plastic torches are on the front line of the battle against increasingly sophisticated international poaching networks that prey on the rare animals, entering the park under cover of darkness to kill them for their horns.

An Indian forest ranger walks past animal skulls in front of a forest camp building in Kaziranga National Park. Pic/AFP

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had asked the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to take all possible measures to protect the one-horned rhinos and that the poachers will not be spared.

Rhino. Pic/AFP

He also appealed to the people living on the fringes of the park to remain alert against poachers and urged them to also identify the culprits.

The poachers have killed nine one-horned rhinos in the park this year.