CWRC, Kaziranga,  November 24, 2014: A male rhino calf injured by a tiger was treated this morning by the IFAW-WTI run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) MVS team. The calf approximately three months old was found today near Japori Gaon, a fringe village near Agoratoli Range of Kaziranga National Park.

The male rhino calf had several tiger attack injury marks and was found lying in the backyard of a house adjacent to a paddy field.

The CWRC-MVS team of IFAW-WTI led by Dr. Panjit Basumatary reached to the spot and sighted the animal limping and unable to move properly. The team restrained the calf physically, provided first aid treatment and then brought it to CWRC for further investigation and intensive care.

“The calf is having several injuries, out of which a few are deep maggoted wounds on top of the head and hock joint. As the calf is still limping we need to go for an X-Ray, before we decide on the specific line of treatment”, said Dr. Panjit Basumatary, the CWRC veterinarian who is taking care of the calf.

The injured male rhino calf being carried away to CWRC
for treatment. Photo:Subhamoy/IFAW-WTI

The calf being monitored by CWRC caretakers initially showed signs of aggression.

Dr Ashraf, Chief Veterinarian, WTI, said, “We have handled eight cases of rhino calves displaced due to predation-injury in the past, and in most such instances the mother is not around necessitating our intervention.”

The injured male rhino calf at the CWRC.
Photo:Subhamoy/IFAW-WTI

CWRC till date has attended to 32 cases of displaced rhino calves. Recently, three orphaned rhino calves hand-raised at the centre were radio collared and released at Manas National Park.