Blog Details

•  Author : Adeeb Sahil
• Date : August 06, 2025

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga safari booking

On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, an extraordinary day began in Assam, India. This day is known as World Rhino Day. On this day, Assam began a new project. The goal of the project is to collect DNA from rhino horns and study it. The project supports rhino protection and conservation work.

Work continues at Kaziranga National Park, a world-famous park where many people come as tourists by making Kaziranga safari bookings. For years, people have killed rhinos for their horns. Now, the government and scientists are hoping to be able to use the horns illegally seized from poachers and use them for scientific work. The main reason to take data from these horns is to help stop rhino killings and catch people doing illegal work with the horns.

Burning Of Rhino Horns By The Assam Government

The government of Assam did something very big, and it had never been done before in India. They burned 2,479 rhino horns in Bokakhat in an event. The Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, was present during the event.

The government aimed to inform the public about rhino horns are not extraordinary. Many people think rhino horns have magical or medicinal qualities, which is false. Rhino horns are made of the same thing as human fingernails. They have no medical purpose.

By burning the horns in front of everyone, the government sent a strong signal that rhino horns should not be purchased or traded, as well as combating illegal poaching and rhino horn trade. So, the event was not just about destroying horns - it was also about educating people and combating misconceptions.

Some Rhino Horns Saved For Science

Although most of the horns were burned, the government kept some horns for valuable scientific research. The horns were not sold or preserved for money. The horns were specifically selected and are going to be used for DNA research.

These horns are now helping scientists in Kaziranga National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kaziranga has the largest number of one-horned rhinos in the world. The horns are now being used to make a database for DNA. This will help police and wildlife officials find out where a horn came from if it is found in the future.

DNA Work Begins In Kaziranga

The DNA work is happening in a place called the Centenary Celebration Hall in the Kohora Range of Kaziranga National Park. This room has very high security. Cameras are always watching the room, and only special people can go inside. This is done to make sure everything is safe and fair.

In this room, wildlife workers and scientists are collecting DNA from the horns. All living things have DNA as their genetic code. No two rhinos have the same DNA, just like no two people have the same fingerprints. That is why DNA is very useful for identifying rhinos.

People from different government and wildlife groups are also watching the work to make sure everything is done properly. The objective is to create a DNA list from each individual rhino horn. This list will help in future investigations if a rhino horn is found somewhere in the world.

Where The DNA Will Go

After the scientists in Kaziranga take the DNA from the horns, they will send the samples to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun. WII is one of the best places in India for studying wildlife and doing DNA research.

At the WII, other scientists will study the DNA carefully. They will use special machines to read the DNA and store all the information in a safe and secure database. This database will be used by police, customs officers, and wildlife experts to check if a seized horn is real and where it came from.

Why DNA Collection Is Important

This DNA work is very important for many reasons. First, it helps in stopping poaching. If police find a rhino horn anywhere in the world, they can test the DNA and match it with the database. They can then find out which rhino the horn belonged to, and even where the rhino lived before it was killed. This can help find and punish the people who killed the rhino or sold the horn.

Second, this database will help in studying rhinos. Scientists can learn about the health and population of rhinos in India. They can check if the rhinos are from different families or if there are problems in their genes. This will help protect rhinos better in the future.

Third, the DNA work also shows the world that India is serious about wildlife conservation. It shows that India is using modern science to stop animal crimes.

Who Is Doing the Work

This project is led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Assam. This is the state's top forest officer. Many other people are also involved.

The team includes:

• Two genetic experts from WII
• Two scientists from an organization called Aaranyak, which works to protect wildlife in Assam

• Four independent observers, who are there to make sure the work is fair and follows all rules

Together, this group is making sure the DNA work is done correctly and honestly.

DNA Work Will Take Time

There are more than 2,000 horns to test. This is challenging and will take a lot of time. Each horn must be:

• Checked carefully
• Labeled and cataloged
• Sampled for DNA
• Processed with care

Dr. Sonali Ghosh, who is the Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that this work will take more than one week, and maybe even longer. The team is working slowly and carefully so that there are no mistakes. It is very important to make sure that the DNA is not mixed or damaged. Every horn tested is a record of a real rhino that once lived.

Rhino Statues Made From Horn Ashes

Rhino horns were burned, and the ashes were used to make three big rhino statues with baby rhinos. At the Mihimukh gate, these statues are placed. They help people remember the rhinos killed by poachers.

They also show the Assam government’s promise to keep rhinos safe. People who make Kaziranga safari bookings can see these statues and learn why it is important to protect rhinos. The statues remind us that rhinos should not die for false ideas. We must protect animals with science, care, and better knowledge.