A nearly 25-year-old adult male rhinoceros has died in Manas National Park, with forest officials attributing the death to injuries sustained during a fight with another rhino.

The incident comes on the day of Goru Bihu, marking a setback for conservation efforts in the protected area.

According to the Forest Department, the animal had been seriously injured in an earlier clash with another rhino on March 15. Following the incident, it was treated by departmental veterinarians and kept under observation.

Officials said the rhino eventually succumbed to its injuries despite medical intervention. A post-mortem examination confirmed the presence of deep internal injuries as the cause of death.

The carcass was recovered on Tuesday from a stream in the Bansbari Range of the park, one of the key habitats for the species.

Forest authorities stated that intra-species conflict is a known behavioural pattern among rhinos, particularly among adult males, often linked to territorial disputes. Further monitoring in the area is underway