Bad weather prevents airlifting of stranded rhino

"The weather has been pretty bad here since last few days with rains and poor light. In such conditions it is difficult to tranquilise the rhino as it might get frightened and run towards the Brahmaputra river and get drowned," a senior district administration official said.

The rhino, which is suspected to have strayed from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary near Guwahati and washed downstream by the flooded river Brahmaputra, was first spotted by locals at Rani Chapori of Sualkuchi.

The official said the rhino is under watch round the clock with forest, IAF, and medical officials present in the vicinity all the time.

The rhino is currently positioned at a place which is only around 100 metre from the Brahmaputra river.

The state government had requisitioned an IAF helicopter on October 1 to airlift to safety the rhino.

Five rhinos have been killed and their horns removed by poachers since September 26 last and during the current year 18 have so far been killed, while five have died in the ongoing third wave of floods in the world-famed Park.