RAUTAHAT: A one-horned rhino was found injured at a forest of Chure region in Rautahat district on Saturday morning.

Locals of Chandrapur Municipality, who heard cries of the rhino, had immediately called police and forest officials to rescue the animal.

According to Chandrapur Area Police Office, the rhino had got severe injuries, apparently from bullets fired by poachers who attacked the wild animal to take out its horn.

Poachers had shot eight bullets onto the rhino’s head and thigh to take out its horn, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Yadav. After shooting, they might have chased the mammal to the forest, but had fled after seeing the locals, he added.

Yadav also informed that the area, crowded by locals to watch the injured rhino, had been taken under the control of police for further investigation.

Medical and technical teams from the Chitwan National Park and the Parsa Wildlife Reserve are on the way for the rhino’s treatment, said Yadav.

Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into the incident.