Rehabilitation of greater one-horned rhinoceros calves in Manas National Park, a World Heritage Site in India

A groundbreaking conservation effort successfully rehabilitated three greater one-horned rhinoceros calves, rescued from Kaziranga National Park during floods, into Manas National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The calves were hand-reared at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) using human milk formula until two years old, then transitioned to a diet of concentrates and greens in paddocks. At three years old, they were translocated 500 km away to Manas NP, where they spent two years in a 600-acre pre-release area enclosed by an electric fence, allowing them to forage freely. After release, radio monitoring confirmed all three calves survived, established their own home ranges, and thrived in the new habitat. This study demonstrates the feasibility of long-distance rhino rehabilitation, offering a model for restoring populations in historically suitable but currently depopulated areas.

Barman, R., Choudhury, B., Ashraf, N., & Menon, V. (2014). Rehabilitation of greater one-horned rhinoceros calves in Manas National Park, a World Heritage Site in India. Pachyderm, 55, 78–91. https://doi.org/10.69649/pachyderm.v55i.356