New Delhi, April 17 -- Guide Bholaprasad Sharma spotted the two animals, partially hidden in the thick foliage. Perhaps, spending 19 long years as a safari guide has trained him to spot wildlife quickly.

In the blazing sun, it took a few more minutes to see them prominently. Then they fully came into view: two beautiful rhinos, the pride of Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district of West Bengal.

Jaldapara has an interesting history. It was once the hunting ground of the Cooch Behar royal family. In 1941, it was declared a game sanctuary. In 1976, Jaldapara became a wildlife sanctuary, and in 2012, a national park.

Spread over an area of 216.51 sq km, Jaldapara is a riverine ecosystem crisscrossed by several important rivers whic...