Rhino strays over 60 kms in bid to return home

NEW DELHI: The "strong" homing instinct of one of the two wild rhinoceros which have been relocated early this year in Manas National Park, a world heritage site in Assam, is giving sleepless night to wildlife officials there.

The five-year-old rhino had recently strayed as far as 68 kms away to Kalseni in Guwahati from his new home Manas, passing through villages on the way in his 14 days journey starting September 1.

The animal had to be tranquilised and put back to its natural habitat before it could be harmed by curious onlookers and poachers during his straying.

"The rhino was being tracked all this while with the help of the signals transmitted from his radio collar," Sujoy Banerjee, an official with WWF said.

He said the radio signals were superimposed on a map of the area using global positioning system to pinpoint his exact location.

However, officials suspect that the animal might again go on a similar "adventure" and move eastward to its previous home -- Pobitora wildlife sanctuary.

"There is sufficient food for the animal in the Manas park but still the rhino has been attempting to move out the area.

"Soon after a month it was translocated, it had tried to cross the fringes of the park. With great efforts it was sent back," Banerjee said.