Jaldapara and Cooch Behar Forest Teams Honoured for 2025 Rhino Rescue Mission
Times of India | 13 July 2026
Kolkata: Teams from north Bengal’s Jaldapara and Cooch Behar wildlife divisions were recently felicitated at an event in Kolkata for their efforts to save 13 stranded one-horned rhinos during 2025 flood rescue operations.
The teams were awarded the Professor Ratan Lal Brahmachary Memorial Award as city-based Society for Heritage & Ecological Researches (SHER) observed ‘Bagh Divas 2026’, bringing together conservationists, foresters, and civil society members to reaffirm the collective responsibility towards tiger and biodiversity conservation.
“In one of the largest and most unique rhino rescue operations undertaken in India, every rescued rhino was successfully rehabilitated and released back into its natural habitat in Jaldapara National Park. This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment, teamwork, and resilience of the frontline staff and all agencies involved in safeguarding one of India’s most iconic wildlife species,” said Jaldapara DFO Parveen Kaswan.
As part of the event, SHER honoured frontline conservation heroes, recognising the courage and commitment of forest field staff. The Padma Shri P K Sen Memorial Felicitation recognised individuals working at the grassroots level to protect biodiversity, strengthen awareness, and promote human-wildlife coexistence.
The evening featured wildlife photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee, whose powerful visual storytelling has inspired conservation across the world.
Through Bagh Divas 2026, SHER reinforced its belief that protecting the tiger means protecting forests, biodiversity, communities, and the future we all share, said SHER’s Joydip Kundu.