Two rhinos to be released in Assam's Manas national park

Two rhinos from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) will be released soon in Assam's Manas National Park, officials said Wednesday.

The rhinos - Gopal and Hari - accompanied by veterinarians, have travelled almost 400 km from the CWRC in Kaziranga to Manas. Both of them are about four years old.

"Both the rhinos will be released following a period of acclimatisation," CWRC officials said.

Five rhinos have been rehabilitated in Manas since 2006. Three of them gave birth last year, which indicated their successful rehabilitation, officials said.

"Gopal and Hari were less than a month old when they were found alone at Baruntika and Haldhibari areas of Kaziranga in 2009. They were separated from their mother and were admitted at the CWRC for rehabilitation," they said.

"In India, the CWRC is the only facility through which rescued rhinos are being rehabilitated in the wildlife again," said M.K. Yadav, chief forest conservator and director of Kaziranga National Park.