Guwahati, Feb. 6: The Assam forest department has decided to set up anti-poaching camps along the Brahmaputra to protect rhinos that stray from national parks.

Altogether five such camps will be set up shortly in the first phase where armed guards would be deputed. The five anti-poaching camps would be spread in Golaghat and Jorhat districts and forest guards would be deputed from these two districts.

“A few camps would also come up in the chapories (sandbars) in the Brahmaputra,” a senior forest official said here today. He further said straying rhinos have become a big concern in recent times, as they fall easy prey to poachers.

“We have decided to set up guard camps along the Brahmaputra near the national parks to keep a watch on such rhinos,” the official said.

Kaziranga has already witnessed two rhinos falling prey to poachers this year. Both were killed after they strayed out of the park.

Last evening, another rhino had strayed out of the park and crossed NH52. It was last seen at Sootea in Sonitpur district.

“We have informed the forest department of Sonitpur district to keep a watch on the rhino. A team from Kaziranga has also gone to Sootea to bring back the rhino,” the forest official said.

A forest official at Kaziranga said the rhinos generally stray out of the park in search of food and out of fear of being attacked by tigers.

“The rhino population in the park is on the rise in recent times and as such few rhinos also stray out to avoid infighting,” the official said.

According to the latest census, over 2,000 rhinos were found in the national park. The official said it becomes very difficult for forest guards to keep a watch on straying rhinos since they cover long distances through inaccessible areas.

A male rhino, which had strayed out of Kaziranga a few years back, covered a distance of over 100km to Panidihing bird sanctuary. “The rhino has made Panidihing its home. We have given up the idea of bringing it back to Kaziranga. The animal is safe and sound there,” the official said.

There are also instances of rhinos straying out of Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park and Pobitora. A few months back, a rhino that strayed out of Orang covered about 30km and entered a human settlement. However, it returned to the park after two days.