We know that in 2012 the Javan (or Sunda) rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Vietnam
was declared extinct, but according to Lauren Mellela of Global Animal the situation in Indonesia has
happier components. The article has an embedded video showing several cow-calf
pairs of this species caught on remote sensor cameras in Ujung Kulon National Park.
Apparently some 35 different individuals have been filmed or identified.
The video is just under 3 minutes in length and is worth a look-see, especially
if you have never seen this species. There are few, if any in zoos, anywhere.
They bear some resemblance to the Indian one-horned species.
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| Sumatran rhino at the Molucca zoo. (Note the site of the sawn-off horns) |
The
Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the only Asian
one with two horns. It is also the smallest and the hairiest one of all five
remaining species. I saw what was probably the first one captured in modern
times in the Molucca Zoo in Malaysia in 1985 and was even able to give some
medical advice and arrange for some much-needed antibiotics to be delivered to
the zoo vet.
Since
then a few more have been captured and some success with captive breeding has
occurred. In this video a male calf is shown being born in a conservation centre in
Indonesia. It is reported to be only the fourth time that such a captive birth
has occurred.
As reported in this National Geographic article there are thought to be fewer than 400 members of this species left, so any
breeding successes are a positive sign,
FINGERS CROSSED.
5 comments:
Thanks for this encouraging news, Jerry. It's easy to forget that these little jungle rhinos even exist with all the (justifiable) media coverage of their larger savannah-grazing cousins. I've been enjoying the stories on your blog!
Thanks for sharing this encouraging news! It's easy to forget that these little jungle rhinos even exist sometimes, with all the media coverage of their savannah-grazing cousins. I've been enjoying the stories on your blog!
Interesting, I did not even know there was a Sumatran rhinoceros! Diane
Nice,
Thanks for your greatful informations, working in, ASIAN AFFAIRS MAGAZINE.
Try to post best informations like this always
Endangered species: Rhino: If they're gone, they're gone forever
It is really very sad and based on human greed to cut the horns of the rhinos or kill them for the parts of their bodies. It is really a crime and the people found involved in that must be punished by law.
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