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| File picture of a rhino in Assam |
Guwahati, Oct. 18: A foul smell emanating from a clump of grass alerted forest officials to the death of a female rhino, killed by a male at Bansbari range of Manas National Park.
Six translocated rhinos, two male and four female, were kept in an enclosure at the park.
“The carcass of the female rhino was found today,” a forest official in Manas said.
The official said the male rhino first chased and injured the female one in the rear.
“It was totally unexpected. We have not noticed any aggressive behaviour am- ong the rhinos for the last several days and they were moving about freely,” the official said.
He said it could be a case of infighting among the rhinos as males tend to dominate the herd.
The post-mortem report is awaited.
The rhinos were translocated under the India Rhino Vision 2020 under a Wildlife Trust of India programme.
The rhinos had sustained injuries during the floods and were treated at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) before being sent to Manas.
The incident assumes importance as a translocated male rhino from Pobitora, which had strayed, had to be tranquillised to be brought back.
It had strayed nearly 70km from Manas and was brought back from Kalseni in Baksa district.
The Security Assessment Group of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 had said in a report that 80 per cent of the national park was secure and that it was safe to release the animals there.
The park is covered with thick and tall grass and it is very difficult to spot the rhinos.
“The monitoring is done by radio telemetry sets as all the rhinos there have been radio-collared,” the official said.
The official said with more translocations scheduled to take place in coming months, a new challenge has emerged on how to deal the new situation.
Meanwhile a one-year-old elephant calf, which was rescued from Goalpara on Friday, was sent to the Assam State Zoo today.
An adult and partially blind elephant was killed after being hit by a goods train near Deepor Beel on Thursday.