Jorhat, March 25: This rhino may not have had retribution on his mind when it attacked and dug its teeth into forest guard Paresh Bauria's leg at Kaziranga National Park today but its action in stomping and breaking the rifle of the guard seemed symbolic - revenge - for all his brethren killed or maimed by gun-wielding poachers for their horns, especially in the past decade.

The guard, who was engaged in the census of rhinos which began today in the park has been admitted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.

Divisional forest officer of the park, S.K. Seal Sharma, said the guards were on foot in the Bagori range of the park when the rhino attacked.

"The guard tried to save himself by shooting in the air but fell while running and the rhino stamped on the rifle and broke it before biting his leg. A rhino is prone to attack if and when disturbed," Seal Sharma said.

"It cannot be said if the animals know what danger a rifle poses," he said.

The guard was saved by his colleagues who had accompanied him. The animal fled when the other guards fired in the air.

During the census in March 2013, a rhino had attacked an elephant which was carrying the then DFO Aniruddha Dey and forest guard Hem Chandra Dutta. Both of them had fallen from their seats and were injured.

Another official of the park said these were hazards of their job.

"Earlier, several forest guards, grass cutters, game watchers, home guards and drivers have been injured or killed by rhinos when they came face to face with them. As far as I can recall in 2009, the highest number of forest guards had been injured by rhinos and other animals like wild elephants and wild buffalos," he said.

There have been reports that forest guards also have links with poachers and it could be with their help and that of villagers that rhinos are being killed.

This year, eight rhinos have been killed in the park by poachers and last year more than 25, drawing protests from various quarters amid concern the endangered rhino could face extinction.

The horn for which it is killed sells for more than Rs 1 crore in the international market and militants have taken to this lucrative trade.