Poachers killed a rhino in eastern India's Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, within a few hours of Prince William and Kate Middleton's visit on Wednesday. The adult male rhino was found with a missing horn, just 20 km away from the river lodge where the royal couple were staying for the night.
Wildlife officials heard gunshots at 11.10 p.m. on Wednesday night, shortly after the royal couple had driven through the park in an open jeep. They discovered 88 empty cases from AK 47 guns near the rhino.
The 480-square-kilometer grassland park houses the world's biggest population of the rare one-horned rhino, and had 2,400 at last count. William and Kate had visited the park to raise awareness on the conservation of these endangered animals.
Yet, the animals continue to be threatened by rampant poaching. Rhinos are killed for their horns that are illegally traded and fetch millions of dollars in China, where they are considered to have medical properties. The animals are also subjected to excruciating pain before their death.
Last year, 17 rhinos were killed in park and this year hadn't been any better. In 2016 alone, six rhinos were killed by poachers, with a female rhino slain for her horns just two days before William and Kate's visit.
