Jorhat (Assam): A routine patrol at Kaziranga National Park turned tragic on Sunday morning when a rhinoceros charged a team of forest personnel in the Kohora range, killing one guard and leaving another seriously injured, forest officials said.
The incident occurred near the Bordoloni camp area, where frontline staff were carrying out regular patrolling duties inside the protected forest zone.
According to officials, the rhino suddenly attacked the guards without warning, leading to a fatal encounter.
Sahabuddin, a home guard attached to the forest department, sustained critical injuries and died while being rushed to a hospital in Kohora for emergency treatment, said Kaziranga Deputy Director Arun Vignesh C.S.
Another forest staffer, Ramen Borah, was injured in the attack and was first treated at the Kohora medical facility before being referred to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for advanced care. Doctors said he is under medical observation.
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Forest authorities described the incident as a stark reminder of the constant dangers faced by frontline conservation workers tasked with protecting wildlife and preserving the fragile rhino habitat.
Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a core area spanning about 430 square kilometres, is home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceros, making human–wildlife encounters an ever-present risk for field staff.
Senior officials said safety protocols and patrolling procedures are being reviewed in the aftermath of the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
