Rhinoceros populations are under pressure in African and Southeast Asia, but there’s one place in the world that’s turning out to be a stronghold.  Despite the worldwide poaching epidemic the Indian state of Assam is has seen its population leap by 27 percent since 2006.

Poachers in Assam have killed 18 Rhinos so far this year.  But officials say that could have been a lot worse.

“We have been taking steps to stop the poaching.  When our government came to power in Assam there was lack of manpower in Kaziranga (National Park),” said Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, “We have increased the manpower strength to 1,200 inside the park.”

Indian rhinos are targeted for the same reason as their African relatives, which are endangered of being wiped out.  An ascending economy in China and Southeast Asia means more people have cash to spend on ridiculous, archaic folk remedies, which prescribe ground up Rhino horn to cure gout, impotence, snakebites, headaches – or anything else that it just doesn’t work on.  There’s just no scientific evidence.

But the trade is lucrative, so Assam state had to make sure that there’s a counterbalance or risks and penalties to make potential poachers think twice.

“We have also amended the Wildlife Protection Act so that the jail term of the poachers can be enhanced,” said Hussain, “We have also empowered the forest personnel to use arms to fight the poachers.”