Manas National Park

Guwahati, Sept. 3: Officials of Manas National Park has sought the help of Pobitora staff and doctors to bring back a rhino which strayed nearly two days ago.

The rhino was relocated from Pobitora wildlife sanctuary to Manas in April to boost the population of the one-horned species. Hence, the Pobitora personnel are expected to be better acquainted with the rhinos from their area. Two doctors have been asked to join the team.

“Two officials from Pobitora have joined us to help get back the rhino which had strayed at least 18km from the park,” said an official.

The rhino translocation programme has been initiated under India Rhino Vision 2020, which is being implemented by the Assam forest department with support from The International Rhino Foundation and its partners — the Centre and the World Wildlife Fund.

“The habitat at Pobitora is totally different from the one at Manas. In the sanctuary, the rhinos are used to huge open tracts where they roam freely and often cover long distances,” a park official said.

In Manas, the area is quite restricted.

The rhino has been spotted at Soibari, 18km from the national park. Incessant rain and a huge crowd, which has come to see the rhino, are also acting as a deterrent for the officials to bring back the animal.

Nine elephants are also helping in the operation. If required, they will form a semicircle to push the lost animal in the direction of the park.

If all measures to drive the rhino back into Manas fail, the last option would be to tranquillise it, for which the doctors are on standby. “But with the pouring rain, it will be a tough option,” the official said. The officials said once the rains are over, they would build an electric fence on the southern boundary of the park to stop straying of animals.