Indonesia: Last Sumatran Rhino in US Arrives in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe 3 Nov 15;

Jakarta. The last US-born Sumatran rhinoceros arrived in Indonesia on Monday at the Way Kambas National Park in Lampung, and will be quarantined at the park's conservation facility.

Eight-year-old Harapan weighs over 816 kilograms and is one of three Sumatran rhinos born at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Harapan arrived at the 1,300-square kilometers national park in Lampung after a 60-hour journey traveling by plane, ferry and truck from Ohio, which he left on Friday.

Nevertheless, he arrived in a healthy condition, Sukatmoko a spokesman for the national park, was quoted as saying by newspaper Kompas on Monday.

Harapan will be placed at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, a 100-hectare breeding center, where his older brother Andalas, the Cincinnati zoo's firstborn Sumatran rhino, lived after relocating to Indonesia in 2007, Sukatmoko said.

Once Harapan has adapted to his new habitat, he will have a chance to mate with one of three female Sumatran rhinos at the park.

In 2012, Andalas fathered a male calf called Andatu and will have more offspring in May.

While Javan rhinos are considered the world's rarest rhinos, the two-horned Sumatran rhinos are also under increasing threat of extinction.

In Indonesia, fewer than 100 of the critically endangered Sumatran rhinos remain.

Cincinnati Zoo rhino arrives safely in Sumatra

Harapan, who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo, was the last Sumatran rhino living outside of Indonesia. He made a 50-plus hour trip to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary over the weekend. Provided

Cincinnati Zoo rhino arrives safely in Sumatra
Carrie Blackmore Smith Cincinnati.com 2 Nov 15;

He made it!

Eight-year-old Harapan was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and had become a beloved member of the zoo family.

It took 53 hours, but Harapan, the last Sumatran rhinoceros living outside of his species' homeland of Indonesia, is once again with others of his kind.

But his keepers decided it best to send Harry, as they called him, to Sumatra. There they hope he will breed and increase the number of these endangered animals. Scientists believe there are only about 100 left on the planet.

Harry departed Friday afternoon. The 1,800-pound animal had been trained over the last several months to spend countless hours inside a wooden crate.

He made stops in Columbus, Chicago and Anchorage, Alaska, then he was sent onto Hong Kong and the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

Harry was then trucked and ferried to his final destination at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. He arrived there on Sunday.

Cincinnati Zoo keeper Paul Reinhart, veterinarian Jenny Nollman, and videographer Pat Story went along to keep an eye on Harapan and to document his trip.

Terri Roth, the zoo's director of the Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife, flew to Jakarta to travel the final leg with Harry.

Roth led the zoo's Sumatran rhino breeding program, which produced three calves, making it the most successful captive breeding program in history. They had hoped to continue the program, but the Indonesian government declined to send any females to Cincinnati. So the move was the best opportunity for Harry.

"We were all shocked at how well he rebounded the minute he was out," Roth said, referring to his crate. "We thought he would wobble a bit, but he came out looking his perky self and immediately started eating (the local food) that was waiting for him."

Harry will need to stay in quarantine for two weeks before he has access to the forested areas at the sanctuary. There, he will be reunited with his brother, Andalas, who was also born at the Cincinnati Zoo. Andalas has sired one calf with 12-year-old female, Ratu, who is now pregnant with a second calf, expected to be born in May.