Rare Sumatran Rhino Calf Born in Indonesia’s Breeding Center

KOMPAS.com- A rare female Sumatran rhino calf was born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary of the Way Kambas National Park in Indonesia’s East Lampung district, bringing the total number of Dicerorhinus sumatrensis population to eight individuals.

The sanctuary’s head veterinarian Zulfi Arsan said Rosa, the mother of the newborn, showed signs of giving birth at 9:00 am local time on Thursday, March 24. “The process of delivery took almost three hours before she gave birth to the newborn at 11.44 am,” said Zulfi in a statement provided by the Environment Ministry.

The sanctuary is the only natural breeding place for the Sumatran rhino with the support of technology and both local and international expertise. Founded in 1998, the sanctuary is under a collaborative program between the ministry’s Way Kambas National Park Center and the Indonesian Rhinoceros Foundation (YABI) to increase the number of Sumatran rhinos population. This target will follow the safe conditions to maintain the survival of the critically endangered species from extinction.

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The Director-General of the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Wiratno said that the baby Sumatran rhino was born by the Rosa and Andatu couple. He said that Rosa miscarried eight pregnancies before 2020. Rosa was then pregnant for 476 days from December 2020 to March 2022.

This new birth is expected to inform the achievement of the conservation efforts of large mammal species in the Way Kambas National Park.

Therefore, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya expressed hope that such commitment will continue to be maintained and managed sustainably for biodiversity, for the national and world interests, now and in the future.

“The Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation continues to strive to maintain the habitat and biodiversity of wild animals,” Siti said.

(Writer: Ellyvon Pranita | Editor: Holy Kartika Nurwigati Sumartiningtyas)

Source: https://www.kompas.com/sains/read/2022/03/29/133000823/seekor-badak-sumatera-betina-lahir-di-taman-nasional-way-kambas.