The Assam government has publicly burnt 2,479 rhino horns today. Senior officials said that perhaps this is the first time across the globe where such a large number of horns were destroyed. The Forest department decided to preserve 94 for academic purposes while 29 horns would be kept aside for various court cases. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya among others have attended the event held at the Bokakhat.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #000000;">The Chief Minister said that this step has been taken to send a strong message against poaching and make people aware that rhino horns don't have any medicinal value. Our Correspondent reports that Assam is the home of 71 percent of the world's one horn rhino population. Among the destroyed rhino horns, the heaviest horn is 3.05 kilogram while the average weight of horns is 560 grams.</span><br />