A forest staff was killed on the spot while another was injured by a rhino at the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Tuesday morning.

Bikudar Bora, a game watcher (GW) and Anil Kalita, a gardener, who were patrolling the southern side of Ajhar Katoni under Muna Tongi camp of the Kohora range were attacked by the rhino around 9.30am on Tuesday.

During the attack, Bikudar died on the spot while Anil was shifted to Kohora Model Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

His condition is stated to be out of danger.

The park’s director P. Sivakumar said the deceased was a dutiful employee of the park. He said the rhino had attacked them suddenly and they could not escape.

Assistant conservator of forest at Kaziranga, Ritupaban Bora, said 22 people had died following animal attacks in Kaziranaga since 1992 while 105 were injured since 1975.

“Among them, 11 persons died and 65 were injured in rhino attacks only,” he said.

Several individuals, including the staff and officers of KNP and organisations working for environment conservation like Aaranyak and Aashray, expressed shock and extended condolences to Bikudar’s family and paid respect to the departed soul.

Aaranyak’s chief executive officer Bibhab Kumar Talukdar said his demise was a big loss.

Aashray’s president Biren Saikia said Bikudar would be remembered by nature lovers for his sacrifice.

In a Facebook post by the Kaziranga National Park, the staff and the officers of KNP expressed their deep condolences on the demise of a “brave rhino lover” of the park.

The post said: “We express our deep condolence for the demise of Sri Bikudar Bora, a GW who died due to rhino attack at the southern side of Ajhar Katoni under Muna Tongi in Kaziranga range, Kohora. His supreme sacrifice will be remembered forever. May god comfort his bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.”