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Showing posts from December, 2024

The Great Rhino Hunt That Found an Ox

  September evenings in Manas National Park are often shrouded in mist and drenched by monsoon rains. On one such evening, the Basbari Range and nearby villages were inundated, turning the crop fields into makeshift ponds. Villagers, undeterred by the weather, were busy fishing in the swollen streams and rivers. Amid this watery chaos, a curious report arrived. Puran, an employee at the (then) Jungle Travel Resort in Basbari, informed our field assistant, Bipul Nath, of a stray rhino spotted near Mayaongpara Colony, about 5–6 kilometers from the park. There was no record of any rhino straying that day, but Puran’s unwavering confidence sowed a seed of urgency. After all, stray rhinos are no laughing matter, especially in areas teeming with villagers. Taking no chances, I quickly mobilized a 15-member monitoring team led by Bipul and dispatched them to the supposed rhino straying site. It was already dark by the time the team reached Mayaongpara Colony. The rain continued to pour re...