Efforts to avoid extinction pay off as Sumatran Rhino expects its first calf.
The Rhino Foundation in Indonesia has been working hard to help raise the number of Sumatran Rhinos. In the past 15 years the Sumatra Rhino population has been reduced by almost 50%, and it is estimated that there are just 200 left in the wild.
According to the Rhino Foundation an 8 year old female Sumatra Rhino, Ratu, is due to give birth to her first calf in May. The calf will be the 4th of its kind to be born in captivity (where they will be protected by poachers), and the first in Indonesia.
The Rhino Foundation has been working hard to repopulate this endangered species. In 2007 they transferred a male Rhino, Andalas, from the Cincinnati Zoo (USA) to the Sumatran Rhino sanctuary to help aid the breeding of these fantastic animals.
However the process was not an easy one, the two Rhinos Andalas and Ratu, did not get on right away. Andalas chased Ratu and left her with several injuries. However after a few carefully watched meetings the two finally got along.
The breeding of Sumatran Rhinos is not an easy process. Sumatran Rhinos are the smallest of the Rhino species, and are known to be solitary animals. Unfortunately poachers see this breed of Rhino as a valuable prize, as it is believed that the rhino’s long horns have medical properties, especially in traditional Asian medicine.
About Tessa Biddulph
Other articles by Tessa Biddulph
Tessa Biddulph works in the marketing department and is new to Bales Worldwide. She is spending a year at Bales Worldwide before heading back to university to complete a PR degree. Tessa’s favourite destination she has travelled to is Sydney, Australia, but since working at Bales she has already drawn up a long list of places she’d like to visit (number 1 being Machu Picchu, in Peru). 
I think that it is wonderful that such effort is being put in to helping the worlds most endangered animals. Its a worth while job, and i think that we should all get involved however we can in protecting the worlds wildlife.
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