Archive · 12 Aug 2026
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.
- When
- Tuesday morning, around 6:30am.
- Where
- Sinhapara area near Kunjannagar, Falakata block, Alipurduar, about 1km from Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal.
- 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.
- 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