Critically Endangered Sumatran Rhino Was Born in Indonesian Sanctuary. The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry has announced that a young Sumatran rhinoceros has been born in the Indonesian sanctuary. The report hopes that the critically endangered species could start to reproduce.
Sumatran Rhino Born in Captivity
A pair of Sumatran rhinos, female Rosa and male Andatu conceived a baby 16 months ago. The world’s most endangered rhino cub was born on March 24 in the Sumatran Rhinoceros Reserve (TNWK SRS), located in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung Province, Indonesia. After eight miscarriages, it is a huge success.
“The birth of the Sumatran rhino is good news amid efforts by the Indonesian government and partners to increase the Sumatran rhino population,” said Wiratno, director-general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Protection. “With the birth of baby Rosa in SRS TNWK, we hope to continue to receive happy news about the birth of other Sumatran rhinos.”
The Reservation Protects Rhinos
To save the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, veterinarians moved Rosa from the wild to a reserve in 2005. After ten years, employees tried to mate Rosa with several males. Unfortunately, Rosa suffered eight miscarriages between 2017 and 2020.
The main goal of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary is to increase the population of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino. Although the reservation is classified as a captive, it is a more natural environment than zoos. The sanctuary gives rhinos space to live wildly while protecting animals from poachers and predators. Each rhino enclosure at TNWK SRS covers an area of about 30 acres, providing native plant species to eat.
The population of Sumatran rhinos is extremely poor. According to the International Rhino Foundation, there are only about 80 Sumatran rhinos left on Earth, which means that the Sumatran rhino is the most endangered rhino species in the world.
Source and credit: www.greenmatters.com/p/baby-sumatran-rhino, Biro Humas KLHK/Indonesian Ministry if Environment
