3 weeks ago
Mother rhino dies of stress, orphaned calf kept under watch
A mother rhinoceros and her baby lived near a big forest park called Jaldapara.
One morning, a male rhino chased the mother, and she got very scared.
She ran into a village to keep her baby safe.
The mother rhino ended up in a retired teacher's yard.
She was so panicked that she accidentally broke things like sewing machines, a bed, and a wall.
Sadly, the mother rhino died very quickly.
The animal doctors think her heart stopped because of stress, or she hurt her head.
Her baby was hiding in bushes and was very tired and thirsty.
Kind forest workers brought trained elephants to protect the baby rhino.
Now they are watching over the little rhino carefully and hope it gets better soon.
A female one-horned rhinoceros died in Alipurduar after entering a residential compound while apparently fleeing a male rhino to protect her calf.
The rhino, found about 1km from Jaldapara National Park, damaged sewing machines, tube wells, a bed and toilet doors before breaking through a brick wall.
Forest officials suspect she suffered a cardiac arrest from acute stress or a severe head injury; the exact cause awaits post-mortem.
Her calf, found exhausted and dehydrated in a nearby bush, is under forest department watch, with two trained 'kunki' elephants brought from Jaldapara for protection.
Officials have decided against tranquilising the young calf and will consult veterinarians on whether to release it into the wild or shift it to a rehabilitation centre.
- Who
- A female one-horned rhinoceros and her calf, forest officials from Jaldapara, and local residents including retired schoolteacher Sushil Sinha.
- What
- The mother rhino died of apparent stress after entering a human habitation while fleeing a male rhino, leaving her unwell calf under forest department watch.
- Where
- Sinhapara area near Kunjannagar, Falakata block, Alipurduar, about 1km from Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal.
- When
- Tuesday morning, around 6:30am.
- Why
- The rhino was apparently chased by a male rhino while protecting her calf, causing acute stress; a cardiac arrest or severe head injury from breaking a brick wall is suspected.
Key facts
- Species
- One-horned rhinoceros (Indian rhinoceros)
- Location
- Sinhapara, Falakata block, Alipurduar, West Bengal
- Time of incident
- Tuesday, around 6:30am
- Distance from park
- About 1km from Jaldapara National Park
- Property damaged
- Sewing machines, tube wells, a bed, toilet doors, and a brick wall
- Suspected cause of death
- Cardiac arrest from stress or severe head injury; pending post-mortem
- Calf condition
- Exhausted and dehydrated, kept under forest watch
- Forest response
- Two trained 'kunki' elephants brought from Jaldapara; veterinarians to be consulted
Quotes
Forest official
Sangakhata forest official
“"The calf is exhausted and dehydrated. Considering the calf’s age, we have decided against tranquilising it. In due course, we will consult veterinarians and decide whether it should be released into the wild or shifted to a rehabilitation centre. It will be very difficult to save such a young animal without its mother, but we will try our best."”
telegraphindia.com
“"The death of a rhino in such circumstances was unusual. Other herbivores such as gaurs (Indian bison) have occasionally died after prolonged chases, apparently because of cardiac stress, but such an incident involving a rhino is rare."”
telegraphindia.com
Sushil Sinha
Retired schoolteacher who hosted the rhino
“"The rhino caused a lot of damage, but our main concern now is the calf, which has been left without its mother."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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