Correspondent
BARPETA, April 9: A forest guard was killed by a rhino in the Manas National Park cum Tiger Project this morning.
According to information provided by Park director Animesh Deka, an employee of the Assam Forest Protection Force was heading for the market with one of his colleagues this morning, when an adult rhino, named Raja, which was rehabilitated in the Park a few years back, chased them in Teklai Beat area of Bhuyapara range of the park.
Animesh tried to scare off the rampaging pachyderm by firing into the air from his rifle, but it was futile. A grievously injured Animesh fell on the ground and succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
After keeping the body at the Sewali camp for a while, the body was sent for post-mortem.
The deceased hailed from Dekapara near Bhawanipur in Bajali district. He got married only three months ago.
It may be mentioned that Raja has earned a bad reputation with its frequent attacks on humans. Several persons have been injured by it so far, and this is the second casualty in two years.
New additions: The Manas National Park is set to welcome five new rhinos in this week itself. According to information available, three rhinos are on their way and they will be rehabilitated by the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) tomorrow. The three pachyderms had been rescued from Kaziranga.
Two adult rhinos will be translocated here on April 13 under the ambitious IRV 2020 project.
With the addition of these five rhinos, the total number of this endangered species at Manas will go up to 50.
An official engaged in the translocation process, who is also associated with the IRV 2020 project, claimed that the project has been a grand success as far as Manas is concerned. The Park, labelled as ‘World Heritage Site In Danger’ has got a new lease of life under the IRV 2020 project. The project will come to an end soon and IRV 2.0 will be launched this year, the official informed.
