GUWAHATI: A rhinoceros remained marooned on a sand bar in the middle of the Brahmaputra near Sualkuchi area in Kamrup (Rural) district, despite several attempts by forest officials to rescue it. The animal possibly strayed from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located around 50 km east of the city, to escape floodswaters.The rhinoceros was spotted grassing at the Rani Chapori , a sand bar located some 40km north of the city, by local fishermen on Sunday afternoon. Immediately, the district administration, the forest department and even the Indian Air Force (IAF) were called in to help rescue the full-grown male rhino.The state forest department, which plans to airlift the rhino from the sand bar to a safe location, is struggling to tranquilize the animal. "It takes at least five to 10 minutes to tranquilize such a big animal. Normally, when a rhino is given a tranquilizer shot, it runs towards water. But in such a difficult situation, this rhino has the risk of drowning in the river," said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Suresh Chand.The forest department and the IAF are at present working on a strategy to airlift the animal without harming it. "We are examining all the possible measures that can be taken. It is a herculean task and we can't take any chances. The sand bar is full of mud and is swampy, which is making the job difficult for us," Chand added.An IAF helicopter has already surveyed the area and registered the necessary details.Sources said that this is the first time that the IAF's help has been enlisted to rescue a rhino. "If the IAF helicopter succeeds in rescuing the rhino, it's going to be the first-of-its-kind rescue operation in the country," said a Kamrup (Rural) administration official.Forest guards who have been guarding the rhino since Sunday said the animal is now hiding in the wild grass in the sand bar."We have been providing grass and bananas to the rhino. We are also keeping a sharp vigil on its movement. We don't want to lose it," said a forest official on duty. More than eight forest officials on boats are constantly monitoring the rhino's movement.The river police have also been pulled into the operation of guarding the animal against poachers. According to the district administration, the air-lifting operation was suspended for the day on Monday. "We will continue the operation tomorrow (Tuesday)," said a district administration official.