Operation Rhino in West Bengal

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

Forest officials immediately began a large-scale rescue operation. Teams used trained elephants, drones, and even fire department vehicles to monitor and rescue

Veterinary teams checked the rhinos before they were released back into the wild