File picture of rhinos at Pobitora wildlife sanctuary

Guwahati, Oct. 22: It is not just poaching that is haunting the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary of late.

Apparently, a “mysterious” disease is believed to have struck the sanctuary, already claiming a rhino calf.

Officials said that the one-and-a-half year-old calf died about a fortnight ago while another is battling for life. The latter has started showing similar symptoms of paralysis of the posterior, fever, loss of appetite and weakness.

Park ranger N. Tamuli said the ailing calf was found on the bank of a waterbody last evening along with its mother.

“We have observed the calf yesterday and detected similar symptoms which claimed a calf about a fortnight back,” Tamuli said.

The forest department has rushed experts from the College of Veterinary Science, state zoo and Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Kaziranga to Pobitora to take stock of the situation.

Prasanta Boro, a veterinarian from the centre, said that the posterior of the calf has almost become paralysed and it was not being able to stand up.

Boro, who has been camping at the sanctuary since this morning, said providing treatment to the ailing calf has become difficult with the mother hanging around all the time.

“We used three elephants to chase away the mother this morning and administered saline and vitamin doses to the calf,” Boro said.