Home / Environment / Rhino Found Dead, Dozens of Animals Strayed in West Bengal Floods
Rhino Found Dead, Dozens of Animals Strayed in West Bengal Floods
6 Oct
Summary
- One rhino found dead in Gorumara National Park
- Six rhinos strayed from Jaldapara National Park, two guided back
- Carcasses of deer, gaurs, and other animals recovered across flood-hit areas
On October 6, 2025, heavy rainfall, severe floods, and landslides in the Dooars region of northern West Bengal have resulted in the death of one adult Indian one-horned rhinoceros in the Gorumara National Park. According to Parveen Kaswan, the Divisional Forest Officer of the Jaldapara Wildlife Division, six rhinoceroses have strayed outside the Jaldapara National Park, with two of them guided back and the remaining four still recovering from their travels.
The floods have also taken a toll on other wildlife in the region. Local wildlife conservation activists have reported the recovery of carcasses of several animals, including spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer, and Indian gaurs, across the Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. While an exact count is yet to be ascertained, it is feared that at least one rhinoceros, three Indian gaurs, and one sambar deer have died due to the floods.
The Dooars region, which houses the Gorumara National Park and Jaldapara National Park, is a popular tourist destination known for its biodiversity and wildlife. State Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda, along with senior Forest Department officials, has visited the flood-affected areas to assess the scale of damage to humans, forests, and wildlife. While the minister has stated that there is no large-scale wildlife loss, the situation remains fluid, and more casualties are expected as the water recedes and the forest officials can access the interior parts of the parks.
