Panic ensued among residents of a village near Mariani as a full-grown one-horned rhinoceros strayed out of Kaziranga National Park, seeking refuge in their midst. Local villagers made valiant attempts to chase away the massive creature but were unsuccessful, prompting them to seek assistance from the nearby forest beat office.
Forest officials swiftly arrived to assess the situation and discovered the rhino taking shelter in an irrigation canal. Unfortunately, they were ill-equipped to handle the situation effectively. Recognizing the urgency, authorities from Kaziranga National Park requisitioned a team of veterinary experts from the renowned Assam State Zoo in Guwahati, armed with tranquilizer guns.
However, the rescue operation had to be temporarily called off for the night due to fast receding daylight. Forest officials diligently stationed themselves at the location, monitoring the rhino’s movements overnight to ensure the safety of the villagers.
With the break of dawn, the operation to tranquilize and relocate the rhino resumed with renewed vigor. The combined efforts of the forest officials and veterinary experts aimed to safely sedate the rhino and transport it back to its natural habitat within the national park.
Incidents of wild animals, particularly rhinos and elephants, straying from Kaziranga National Park and posing a threat to human lives have been recurrent in the area. Earlier this year, a father and son fell victim to a rhino attack near the park, sustaining severe injuries. This highlights the pressing need for effective measures to mitigate such encounters.
Kaziranga National Park boasts the world’s largest population of the magnificent one-horned rhinoceros, estimated at 2,613 individuals. Efforts are continuously being made to strike a balance between wildlife conservation and human safety in the region.