The United Liberation front of Assam (ULFA) published a list of poacher's names in the local newspaper, warning that they would be killed unless they stopped poaching. Last year [1989] they claimed responsibility for killing 3 poachers and one middleman.
Another lethal poaching tactic started in Sept 1989 when a rhino was electrocuted to death in Pobitora by a wire attached to a high-tensile power line traversing the park. A second electrocution occurred shortly afterwards. Poachers ingenuously hook wires onto the power lines, drawing current from it to a rhino track where these live wires are suspended 1 m above the ground. During the night a rhino tocuhes the wire and is electrocuted to death. Burns on the rhino carcases indicate that they struggle to escape for about 5 minutes before succumbing to the shock
All forest guards were moved out of the sanctuary, consequently at least 6 rhinos were killed. It seems that now [1990] the Bodo extremists have left Manas, but it is unknown if control has been re-established. Two guard camps have moved back into the reserve, but the guards are demoralised.
1989, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, $15,000 per kilo wholesale. Middlemen were offering poachers in Assam $6250 a kilo
