A rescued rhino calf grows stronger in India

After nearly one month in care, her premolar and molar teeth had begun to emerge, and she was chewing blades of grass. These were encouraging signs of her development, even as the team continued to monitor her irregular bowel movements.

By 23 October, the calf weighed 60 kilograms, an increase of 12 kilograms since her arrival. She was feeding regularly, showing a healthy appetite and strong suckling reflex, and beginning to nibble on young leaves alongside her milk formula.

Her growing confidence was also becoming apparent. The calf that had arrived exhausted and undernourished was now running around her enclosure, exploring her surroundings, and becoming increasingly active.

For the veterinarians and keepers at CWRC, these changes are meaningful indicators of progress, but they are only the beginning of a much longer rehabilitation process.

Young rhinos normally spend years alongside their mothers, learning how to navigate their environment and developing the skills they need to survive. When a calf is separated from its mother at such an early age, rehabilitation requires sustained care and careful planning to give it the best possible chance of eventually returning to the wild.

The team at CWRC has extensive experience with this work. Since its founding in 2002, the centre has rescued more than 10,000 wild animals, with 64% successfully returned to the wild, according to 2026 figures.

Among those animals are greater one-horned rhinos that have gone on to live independently in protected habitats. In January 2026, two rescued rhinos, Chandra and Kanai, were moved to pre-release enclosures in Kaziranga National Park after years of rehabilitation at CWRC.

Their journey offers an example of what long-term care can make possible, although each animal's rehabilitation follows its own course.

For this newest arrival, the immediate priorities remain helping her grow, maintaining her health, and supporting her development. Any decision about her eventual release will depend on her progress and readiness to live independently.