It’s not every day that a rhino appears in your rice field… When a seriously injured baby rhino was discovered in the garden of a house in rural northeast India, the IFAW Wildlife Rescue Centre was called in. The three-month-old calf had suffered severe injuries from a tiger attack and was unable to move on its own. The injured one-horned rhino was taken to the IFAW rescue center for further care after receiving immediate medical attention.
Despite extensive, maggot-filled wounds on the calf’s head and legs, the baby rhino is responding well to therapy, according to Dr Panjit Basumatary, the veterinarian in charge of the calf’s rescue. To date, the IFAW Wildlife Rescue Centre in India has handled with 32 cases of displaced rhino calves, including three radio-collared rhino orphans released into Manas National Park.
Tigers attacking rhinos are not uncommon. Bengal tigers have been observed preying on rhino calves, and in rare circumstances, adult rhinos as well. On the IUCN Red List, Indian rhinos are classified as ‘Vulnerable,’ while tigers are classified as ‘Endangered.’
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
Image © IFAW
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