18 October,2025 06:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
The rescue operation, led by the Jaldapara Wildlife Division, is being called one of India’s largest and most coordinated rhino rescues. Pic/West Bengal Forest Department
In a remarkable rescue mission, ten Greater One-Horned Rhinos were safely rescued and released after being stranded during severe floods in the Alipurduar-Coochbehar region in the northern part of West Bengal, officials said.
The rescue operation, led by the Jaldapara Wildlife Division, is being called one of India's largest and most coordinated rhino rescues.
The 13-day mission ran from October 5 to 17, and involved hundreds of forest staff, local police, fire departments, and community members.
Heavy rainfall in early October caused the Torsha River to overflow, flooding large areas of Jaldapara National Park and nearby forests. This forced many animals, including rhinos, to leave their habitats. Some wandered into villages while others were carried away by floodwaters.
Forest officials immediately began a large-scale rescue operation. Teams used trained elephants, drones, and even fire department vehicles to monitor and rescue the animals. Veterinary teams checked the rhinos before they were released back into the wild.
According to the officials, on October 5, five rhinos entered villages in Alipurduar and another five were reported in Coochbehar. Two were rescued that night, and three more the next day. On October 10, a rhino trapped in Pundibari was tranquilised and safely transported. On October 13, two rhinos were rescued from Patlakhawa forest using elephants and drone support. Another was saved from Putimari on October 14, and the final one on October 17.
The entire operation was made possible through teamwork. Temporary camps, including one at a school near Pundibari, helped coordinate efforts. Green corridors were created by local police to allow quick and safe movement of animals. The Coochbehar Fire Department also helped with rescue equipment and water support.
"This was a landmark operation," said IFS officer Parveen Kaswan.
"It shows what we can do when forest staff, local people, and different departments work together," he said.
All ten rhinos were found in good health and returned to their natural habitat in Jaldapara.
The Greater One-Horned Rhino, listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, is one of India's most iconic wild animals. This successful rescue operation highlights the importance of conservation and how communities can play a vital role in protecting wildlife during natural disasters.
