The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has rescued two rhino calves that were found injured in the park forests. Conservationists suspect the rhino calves were injured due to attack from wild animals.

Nurendra Aryal, assistant conservation officer at the CNP, said an eight-month rhino calf was rescued from a community forest in Meghauli, while the other of around one month was rescued from Amaltari in Nawalparasi. Both the male calves, rescued three days ago, are kept in Sauraha for treatment, the park administration said on Monday.

According to veterinarian Kamal Gaire, the calves are out of danger. “They are responding well to treatment and eating food,” he added.

“The calf rescued from Meghauli could have been attacked by a tiger. Its front leg was fractured besides other injuries,” said Aryal, adding that the calf might be the new born of a rhino that was electrocuted near Meghauli Serai Hotel in August.

The other one has sustained injuries in its hind leg. The conservations suspect that a crocodile might have bitten the calf while it was being swept away in the Narayani river.

The CNP said it has initiated genetic tests to find the mothers of the injured rhinos.

Earlier, a one-horned adult rhino, which was found with multiple bullet wounds in Rautahat, died during treatment on Tuesday. It was found with six bullet wounds, including four in its head, at Tileshwor community forest of Chandrapur-2 in Rautahat. The animal was later brought to the CNP for treatment.

According to the CNP data, 14 rhinos died in the park area in the last fiscal year. While only one of the 14 died of old age, the others succumbed to electric shock, forest fires, attacks by other beasts and poisoning.