Rare Sumatran Rhino Birth Sparks Ray of Hope for Species Teetering on the Brink of Extinction
A ray of hope emerges as a critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros calf is born in an Indonesian national park The successful pairing of Ratu, a local female rhino, and Andalas, formerly from Cincinnati Zoo, brings optimism for the species
A Sumatran rhinoceros calf, classified as critically endangered, was recently welcomed into the world at a national park in Indonesia. This marks the third successful pairing between Ratu, a locally residing female rhino, and Andalas, a previous resident of Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. The female calf, whose name remains undisclosed, was born on Saturday at Way Kambas National Park situated on the southern Sumatra island, as confirmed by Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
The Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, expressed her joy over the news, stating that it was not only a positive development for Indonesia but also for the entire world. According to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), the Sumatran rhino population has significantly declined, with less than 80 remaining in scattered locations throughout Indonesia.
The birth of the calf signifies a ray of hope for a species on the brink of extinction because of illegal poaching and the loss of its natural habitat.
Images shared by the forestry ministry showcased the adorable newborn calf, weighing approximately 27 kilograms (60 pounds), adorned in a coat of black fur, and appearing wide-eyed while beside her mother.
Ratu was captured in a photograph gently nudging her baby. The ministry reported that the calf, born naturally, was able to confidently stand within just 45 minutes and began nursing from its mother within four hours.
An endangered female Sumatran rhino calf walks next to her mother at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary of Kambas National Park, Lampung, Indonesia on September 30.
Antara Foto/Reuters
Hope for the species
The Sumatran rhinoceros, being the smallest rhino species in the world, typically reaches a height of about 4 to 5 feet (approximately 1.5 meters) and has an average body length of about 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). These rhinos are distinctively similar to the extinct woolly rhinos and possess a dense coat of long hair.
Sumatran rhinos inhabit dense tropical forests, both in lowland and highland areas of Sumatra. They are generally solitary creatures, as stated by the IRF. Females give birth to a single calf approximately every three to four years, with a gestation period lasting between 15 to 16 months.
A Sumatran rhinoceros stands in the rhinocerous protection station Tabin in the jungle of Borneo near Lahad Datu, Malaysia, 29Â October 2013
John Grafilo/picture alliance/Getty Images
All of the Sumatran rhinos in Malaysia have perished, prompting scientists to consider using cloning technology to revive the species. The species' population has been greatly reduced due to habitat destruction, leading them to inhabit smaller regions of the Indonesian jungle, which has raised concerns among conservationists about their long-term survival.
The IRF noted that with this species becoming more reclusive and retreating deeper into the dense jungles, direct sightings have become increasingly rare and indirect signs such as footprints are becoming more difficult to come across. However, the breeding program at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary serves as a ray of hope for the species. With its successful production of three calves, the program persists in its efforts to establish a secondary population of rhinos as a safeguard.
The neighboring Malaysia declared the species locally extinct in 2019. On November 24, 2019, a female rhino named Iman, aged 25, passed away at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary due to cancer. According to officials, her demise occurred a few months after the last surviving male rhino, Tam, succumbed to organ failure.
