Kolkata: The 10th one-horned rhino in Jaldapara, swept away during the Oct 4 deluge, was rescued from Patlakhawa forest in Cooch Behar on Friday, making it the "largest coordinated rhino rescue and release operation of its kind in India".
DFO Parveen Kaswan said the rhino, a 25-year-old male, was released safely back into Jaldapara National Park. In all, 10 stranded rhinos were rescued in 13 days since floods hit the region. "The animal is active and healthy. These rhinos were swept away by the Torsa floods and stranded since Oct 5. We will keep scanning the area," Kaswan added.
While five of the rhinos had entered the adjoining human habitation in Alipurduar, the rest were swept downstream into Cooch Behar.
"While five were guided back to Jaldapara on Oct 5 and 6, the other five were rescued from Pundibari, Patlakhawa forest and Putimari areas of Cooch Behar on Oct 10, 13, 14 and 17. The operation to rescue the last rhino was on since Oct 15 but it was not successfully located. On Friday, the tranquillization team, elephant squads and other forest teams located and darted it. It was later brought to Jaldapara," the DFO said.
More than hundred forest staff of Jaldapara took part in the operations and a large contingent of jumbos was deployed in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. In Cooch Behar alone, 11 elephants were deployed to rescue 5 rhinos. "Cooch Behar forest division, administration of the two districts, local cops and fire department, local communities and panchayat bodies also joined the operations," Kaswan said.