Missing rhino found in Jalpaiguri

Forest officials have been able to locate the rhinoceros found missing from the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary near Siltorsha river in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district.
 
The forest officials saw the rhinoceros roaming near the Siltorsha river on Friday.

The rhino had fled the sanctuary's monitoring camp at night on Thursday, where it was being given medical aid for the injuries caused in fight with other rhinos.

The rhino had hurt his left leg, horn and left eye and was being kept under observation by the sanctuary veterinarians, when it fled the camp.

After conducting a rigorous search for the animal in the vicinity, the forest officials found the rhino roaming near Siltorsha river.

The rhino appeared to have strayed into a village and the villagers had pelted stones on it, prompting the animal to flee towards the river.

"This rhino was injured due to infighting among themselves. We could detect it three days back. Then we were tracking it and monitoring it constantly," said Manindra Chandra Biswas, forest conservator, Jalpaiguri.

The officials later pressed in the elephants to drive the rhino away from the river into the forest area.

According to the officials, it is the breeding season for the rhinos and such fights are a common occurrence as male rhinos compete to win over the female.

The endangered animal, whose number has been rising in Nepal and India, is found mostly in Assam and in Nepal.

Poaching is the main threat to the survival of rhino, which is illegally killed for its horn and other body parts.

Rhino horns are believed to have aphrodisiac qualities and are sold for a high price in China and other Southeast Asian countries.