Buxa Tiger Reserve Prepares for the Return of One-Horned Rhinos After 75 Years

MP, Alipurduar, Sept 19, 2025 :: In a significant move towards restoring the lost biodiversity of Buxa Tiger Reserve, the Forest Department is preparing to reintroduce the one-horned rhinos back into the region, nearly 75 years after they were last seen in its forests. This marks a milestone in conservation efforts and the revival of the rhino population in West Bengal.

The Jaldapara National Park, which now has over 330 one-horned rhinos, has successfully exceeded its rhino population capacity, prompting the Forest Department to find a new home for them. Deep within the Nimati Range in western Buxa, a 60-hectare grassland habitat has been developed specifically for the reintroduction of the species. The plan is to initially release a pair of one-horned rhinos into this new area, making Buxa Tiger Reserve the third designated rhino habitat in West Bengal after Jaldapara and Gorumara.

Rhinos were once native to the forests of Buxa, where they coexisted with other species like wild buffaloes, elephants, and tigers. However, rampant poaching in the 1980s wiped out many species, including rhinos, wild buffaloes, and even the Royal Bengal Tiger from the reserve. The last recorded presence of rhinos in Buxa was in 1960, and after that, only a lone stray rhino from Jaldapara was spotted in 1982.

Restoration Efforts

The process of reintroducing rhinos began nearly a decade ago, with the Forest Department preparing a rhino-friendly habitat in the Nimati area. Over the last eight years, the department has worked on nurturing the sprawling grassland in water-rich zones and has also set up a multipurpose watchtower and enhanced security infrastructure to protect the rhinos from potential threats.

Apurba Sen, the Field Director of Buxa Tiger Reserve, emphasized the meticulous planning behind this reintroduction. "You cannot just bring back a species that has disappeared simply because you wish to. It requires a long-term and well-planned strategy. For reintroducing rhinos in Nimati, we are following the same roadmap. The habitat is almost ready, and now we are waiting for the necessary approval," he stated.

Once the approval is obtained, the rhinos will once again roam the Nimati grasslands in Buxa, reviving a legacy that has been absent for nearly 75 years. This is a promising step in the conservation of the one-horned rhino in the region and adds to the growing efforts to restore biodiversity across West Bengal's protected areas.