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I spent a full day at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Kaziranga National Park a few years ago. It was an experience that left a lasting impact on me, not just because of the incredible work being done there but because of one particular resident—a young rhino calf whose life had been shattered by poachers.
At CWRC, I met two dedicated wildlife veterinarians, Dr. Pranjit Basumatary and Dr. Samsul Ali, both of whom I considered my brothers in conservation. Over the years, they had rescued and rehabilitated countless wild animals, each with its own heartbreaking yet hopeful story.
But nothing prepared me for the sight of the small, male rhino calf wandering around the enclosure, searching for someone he would never find—his mother. She had been brutally killed by poachers, leaving him alone, confused, and vulnerable.
Though he was in good health and receiving expert care, his eyes still seemed to carry the weight of loss. As I stood near his enclosure, he slowly approached me, sniffing, as if trying to understand who I was. At that moment, I felt as though he was trying to tell me something.
“My mother was killed by poachers. I am alone. I am insecure. Please save me.”
The pain of losing a mother—something no living being should ever experience—was evident in his every movement. Yet, despite his tragic past, he was learning to trust again, thanks to the dedicated team at CWRC.
His story was just one of many. But it was a reminder that every rhino killed by poachers left behind more than a carcass—it left behind a broken family, a grieving calf, a future stolen.
We had to do more. We had to protect them before they needed rescuing.
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