Guwahati: A home guard died after being attacked by a rhino in Kaziranga National Park on Sunday, just a day after a wild buffalo injured forest personnel in Manas National Park. Another forest staff member was injured in the Kaziranga incident.Kaziranga divisional forest officer (DFO) Arun Vignesh said, “One of our staff members, Sahabuddin, a home guard posted in Bordoloni Camp of Kohora Range, was attacked by a rhino around 12pm while on duty and passed away while being taken to Kohora hospital.”The 52-year-old deceased hailed from Juria in Nagaon district. Forest officials said the two staff members were attacked by the rhino while they were patrolling in the park.Vignesh said the injured staff member, Ramen Borah, was shifted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment. He told the media that the duo were on duty a little far away from their camp.In daytime, forest staff move in groups of two to three while patrolling, officials said.Kaziranga is known for a high density of rhino population. According to 2022 estimates, the park had 2,613 one-horned rhinos. The Kohora Range, where the incident took place, has the largest grassland area in Kaziranga. “The incident took place in a tall grassland area, where it is difficult to know the presence of wild animals. There was a sudden encounter with the rhino, which attacked them immediately,” Vignesh said.The injured staff member is said to be out of danger, he added.
