Sumatran Rhinoceros Calf Born in Indonesia Gives Hope Against Extinction of the Species

(Photo : Getty Images/Bay Ismoyo)

A Sumatran rhinoceros calf was born in a national park in Indonesia and this is giving hope against the feared extinction of the species.

According to the country's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the birth of the baby Sumatran rhino in the Sumatran Rhino Reserve, Way Kambas National Park (SRS TNWK) on September 30 "extends the story of the two Sumatran rhino lovebirds, Ratu and Andalas."

Newborn Rhino Gives Hope

Officials said that the Queen's third child was born normally, adding that the child was quick enough to be able to stand on her own. They also said that in less than four hours, the baby queen can breastfeed from its mother.

Halo Sobat Hijau, kelahiran bayi badak sumatera di Suaka Rhino Sumatera Taman Nasional Way Kambas (SRS TNWK) kemarin (30/09) memperpanjang catatan tentang kisah dua sejoli badak sumatera, Ratu dan Andalas.#klhk #badaksumatera pic.twitter.com/xxWgSXfWaj
— Kementerian LHK (@KementerianLHK) October 1, 2023

This newborn rhino has resulted in the increase of the number of rhinos in the SRS TNWK to nine. The newborn rhino came slightly over a year after the birth of another female calf last March 2022.

Their first two calves were Andatu, born in 2012 and Delilah, born in 2016, who also live at the SRS.

Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Siti Nurbaya said that the latest addition to the family of rhinos in the said park was healthy.

"This news is certainly happy news, not only for the Indonesian people but also the world. I give my highest appreciation to the parties involved in the birth of this Sumatran rhino. Hopefully, we can continue to receive happy news from the births of Sumatran rhinos and other protected animals in the future," Minister Siti said.

Veterinarians and animal care staff from the government of Indonesia's Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS), which is managed by the Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (Yayasan Badak Indonesia, or YABI), had witnessed the entire birth process as well as the postnatal health of the mother and calf.

International Rhino Foundation's (IRF) executive director Nina Fascione said that there are so many uncertainties about the status of wild Sumatran rhinos, but with the latest birth and the overall success of the SRS breeding program, there is clearly still hope for this species.

Sumatran Rhino: Earth's Weirdest Mammals

Experts said that the Sumatran rhino is one of the earth's weirdest mammals.

Having diverged from other modern rhinos more than 20 million years ago, this strange creature is more closely related to the prehistoric woolly rhino that lived during the last ice age.

Once found throughout much of Southern and Southeast Asia, the first reports of the Sumatran rhino's disappearance in modern times began and was recorded as early as 1939.

Unfortunately, they vanished completely from Malaysia by the end of 2019, leaving the species restricted to just three locations in Indonesia: Gunung Leuser and Way Kambas National Parks in Sumatra; and a tiny population in Kalimantan, Borneo.

Scientists said that poaching for horn and the loss of habitat have been largely to blame for the species' population declines.

Moreover, they said that the unnaturally small and isolated populations that remain are themselves the greatest threat to the species' survival.

Meanwhile, some of the remaining sub-populations are likely to comprise just two to five animals, with none containing more than 30.