ANIMAL UNDER FORESTERS' OBSERVATIONRhino injured by bus strays into villages

TT, 28 Nov 2019, Jalpaiguri: A one-horned rhino was injured by a moving bus while the animal was crossing NH31C near Nagrakata in the Dooars on Wednesday.

The injured female rhino entered villages in the fringes of Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. After 12 hours, it returned to the jungle and is under the observation of foresters who are trying to assess its injury for treatment.

Early in the morning, residents of Mahavirbusty near the Chapramari forest were surprised to see a rhino trotting at the village. "I had just come out of my house when I saw the rhino rushing to my home. It damaged a bamboo fence and headed for the Chalsa (railway) station," said Hema Lama, a resident of Mahavirbusty in Jalpaiguri district.

The foresters suspect the animal was crossing the highway that runs between A one-horned rhino. File picture the Gorumara and Chapramari forests when the bus had hit it. "We have found blood marks along the route the rhino took and think it is a major injury," said a forester.

A team of foresters, led by Surjeet Oraon, the Chapramari beat officer, reached near the village to steer the animal back to the wild. As the rhino bore down on Oraon, he tried to run away, but fell on the ground and suffered injuries.

"The rhino damaged an SUV and then went wandering at Chalsa station and the adjoining Chalsa Golai area," said Basant Lama, an eyewitness.

Around 6 in the evening, the animal went to Panjhora in the Chapramari sanctuary "We have identified the bus that hit the rhino and will take legal steps against the driver," said Ujjwal Ghosh, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife, north).

Forest guards and three pet elephants were deployed to monitor the rhino that was wandering near a watchtower after it returned to the forest.

"We are keeping the animal under observation and if required, it will be tranquillised for treatment," said Ghosh.

Gorumara has around 50 one-horned rhinos -- the second highest after the Jaldapara National Park.