Unexpected ‘guest’ made her way to home

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Dec 14: The stray sub-adult female rhino foiling all the attempts of the wildlife experts and the Orang National Park (ONP) authority to capture her by tranquillizing, she finally made her return to her homeland at ONP this wee hours at her own will. The rhino came out from the park on the late midnight of December 10 and roamed an area of about 50 kilometre covering sar areas of river Brahmaputra, Dalgaon, Kharupetia and four villages of Kalaigaon namely– Jhilikapara (Borkola), Abhoypukhuri and Kawadanga within four days. Last evening, she was spotted at village Bherbheri from where she again disappeared in the darkness. On the basis of the information given by villagers and following her footprints the park authority this afternoon confirmed her safe return to the park. Mention may be made here that, the Forest Department under the ongoing Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 were planning for its translocation to Manas National Park (MNP) after capturing it by tranquillizing her. But showing her back to the proposal for translocation, she perhaps considered it better to make her way to ONP at her own.

Meanwhile various Non-Government Organizations working on conservation of wildlife and nature and a number of wildlife activists here have strongly opposed the Government’s move for translocation of the stray rhino to MNP. They demanded the Government not to take up any initiative for translocation of rhinos from ONP in the near future. They also strongly criticized the role of the WWF for their reported attempt for translocation of the stray rhino after capturing it. At the same time they appreciated the timely action taken by the park authority in ensuring her safety and security with the assistance from Darrang police and civil administration. THE SENTINEL