Siliguri: Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across wildlife habitats of north Bengal, with two rhinoceroses swept away and a herd of around 12 elephants stranded in the flooded forest areas of Jalpaiguri district, home to several endangered species.
Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Gautam Deb said that a one-horned adult rhino was found dead after it drowned in the Jaldhaka river in the Dooars region. The incident has left locals and wildlife enthusiasts heartbroken, as heavy rains and swelling rivers have inundated large swathes of forest land across the region.
Jaldapara National Park, one of India’s key rhino conservation zones, is home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, a major attraction for tourists and a crucial focus of wildlife protection efforts. Once nearly extinct due to poaching, the park’s rhino population has rebounded to over 330 individuals as of early 2025, making it the second-largest habitat for the species after Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
Mayor Deb said the sudden surge in river waters is posing a grave threat to wildlife in Dooars. “Apart from the loss of domestic animals such as goats, cattle, and poultry, many antelopes have also perished in the deluge that struck during the early hours of Sunday,” he said.
Two rhinos have died and 12 elephants remain stranded in the Maynaguri forest range, he said, adding the heavy rains have also inundated large tracts of arable land and damaged tea gardens across the Dooars region.
The administration has advised tourists to avoid the affected areas and said that arrangements for the safe passage of stranded visitors will be made once weather conditions and road connectivity improve.
The Jaldapara Wildlife Division has suspended all forms of tourism indefinitely as a safety measure.
“All tourism activities in Jaldapara National Park have been temporarily suspended until further notice. This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of visitors and staff,” said an official notification issued on Monday.
Authorities said a comprehensive assessment of roads, bridges, and related infrastructure will be conducted before tourism resumes in the park.
