Feb
2012
Pregnancy for Rare Rhino Brings Hope to the Species
0
by Cathy in Featured, poachers, Wildlife
The Sumatran rhinoceros is one of the most endangered mammal species in the world today. Only 200 or so of the two-horned, hairy forest dwelling rhinos exist in the world today – 180 in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia. Poaching, the greatest risk to the Sumatran, has caused the population’s numbers to drop by more than half over the last 15 years. But a nine-year-old Sumatran, named Ratu, may have some hope to offer to the dwindling species.
Ratu is currently 10-months pregnant. Before this, she suffered from two miscarriages, so she is receiving special medical treatment, including hormone injections, which seem to be helping.
“We have given her special hormone treatments to lessen the risk of miscarriage. Thank God, it is working well and we hope she’ll have a successful birth,” stated Widodo Ramono from the Rhino Foundation of Indonesia, adding, “It will be the first Sumatran rhino born in captivity in Indonesia.”
Ironically, the baby’s father, Andalas, was the very first Sumatran rhino to be born in captivity in more than 112 years. He was born in 2001 in the U.S. and is now a part of a breeding program. He and Ratu were paired in 2009 at a sanctuary in Way Kambas national park in Lampung, South Sumatra province, two years after he entered the breeding program.
We wish Ratu a safe and healthy delivery and we are excited for the new addition to the Way Kambas sanctuary.
Image – ZUMA
