Orphaned Rhinos Get a New Home at Kaziranga After Years of Care

Guwahati | 21 January 2026: Two one-horned rhinoceroses that were orphaned during Assam floods have been moved to Kaziranga National Park, marking an important step in their journey back to the wild. The animals, named Chandra (5) and Kanai (4), were translocated on Tuesday from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) after years of dedicated care and monitoring. Forest officials said the two rhinos will now stay in a specially designed pre-release enclosure inside Kaziranga. This phase is meant to help them gradually adjust to natural conditions before their final release into the open forest. The entire process is being carried out following internationally accepted conservation translocation protocols. Both animals are reported to be healthy and fit for the next stage of rehabilitation. The move was carried out after receiving formal approval from Assam’s Chief Wildlife Warden under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A site selection committee was formed earlier to identify a suitable and safe location for the enclosure. Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve field director Sonali Ghosh said that the translocation was closely supervised by a team of veterinarians and senior forest officials, strictly following established rehabilitation and release guidelines. CWRC was set up in 2002 by the Assam forest department along with the Wildlife Trust of India and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. The centre focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals affected by floods and other emergencies. So far, CWRC has handled over 7,397 animals from 357 species, successfully releasing nearly 65% of them back into the wild. Among them are 25 rescued rhinos, with most released in Manas National Park and now two beginning a new chapter in Kaziranga. From Rescue to the Wild: Two Young Rhinos Begin a New Chapter at Kaziranga Two orphaned one-horned rhinoceroses, rescued during Assam’s devastating floods a few years ago, have now been shifted to Kaziranga National Park. The rhinos, Chandra aged five and Kanai aged four, were moved from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation after spending years under expert care. At Kaziranga, both animals have been placed in a pre-release enclosure where they will slowly get used to living in natural forest conditions. This step is important before they are finally released into the wild. Forest officials confirmed that the process follows global wildlife conservation guidelines and that both rhinos are healthy. The translocation was carried out with official permission under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A special team of veterinarians and senior forest officers closely monitored the entire operation to ensure the safety of the animals. A suitable site inside Kaziranga was chosen after careful planning by a dedicated committee. CWRC, established in 2002, has played a major role in saving wildlife affected by floods and other disasters in Assam. Over the years, the centre has rescued thousands of animals and successfully returned many to the wild. The journey of Chandra and Kanai now stands as another hopeful story in Assam’s ongoing wildlife conservation efforts.