Rhinos Rescued and Rehabilitated

Summary of Wildlife Rehabilitation and Translocation Efforts in Kaziranga National Park

Background

• Kазiranga National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering a core area of 430 sq. km, located in Assam, India.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

• Rhinos Rescued: Two male rhinos, Chandra (5 years old) and Kamal (4 years old), were rescued due to being orphaned and distressed by floods in August 2020 and August 2021, respectively.
• Care Facility: Both rhinos were cared for at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), which is a collaboration between the Assam Forest Department, Wildlife Trust of India, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, established in 2002.
• Operational Protocol: The CWRC’s primary role includes rescue, rehabilitation, and ensuring animals do not develop human attachments before being reintroduced to the wild.

Translocation Process

• Site Selection Committee: Formed under the direction of Assam’s Chief Wildlife Warden, following the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 to oversee the translocation process.
• Pre-release Habituation: Rhinos were moved to a pre-release site for acclimatization to wild conditions before the final release into Kaziranga National Park.

Management Team

• The operation was conducted by veterinarians, including:
  • Bhaskar Choudhury (CWRC In Charge)
  • Sourabh Buragohain (Forest Veterinary Officer)
  • Sonali Ghosh (Kaziranga National Park Field Director)
  • Arun Vignesh (Divisional Forest Officer)
  • Wildlife experts Rathin Barman, Kaushik Barua, and Anupam Sarmah.

Cumulative Data and Impact

• CWRC Achievements:
  • Total animals rescued: 7,397 across 357 species.
  • Animals released after treatment: Approximately 4,490 (65%).
  • Specific to rhinos: 25 hand-raised rhinos, with 23 returned to Manas National Park and 2 back to Kaziranga.

Current Status

• As of the recent release on January 20, 2026, CWRC retains one more rhino calf for care.

Key Legal Reference:

• Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Governs the protection and management of endangered species and their habitats in India.

This summary encapsulates the efforts taken for the rehabilitation and conservation of orphaned rhinos in Kaziranga, highlighting the collaborative nature of wildlife conservation practices, legal frameworks, and effective management strategies.