Indonesia: Sumatran rhino saved from pit trap in E Kalimantan

Antara 29 Nov 18;

Jakarta (ANTARA News)- A female Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) was rescued from a pit trap near Tunuq River basin area in West Kutai District, East Kalimantan Province, on Sunday (Nov 25).

Within less than 24 hours, the rescue effort was successfully completed and the rhino was later transferred to Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary located in Kelian Lestari protected forest, Sunandar, head of the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Office (BKSDA), said here, Thursday.

The rhino, which is in good health and stable, arrived in her new home on Wednesday morning, he added.

Sumatran rhino is categorized as critically endangered species by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).

Based on the 2016 data of the Population and Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA), the population of Sumatra rhino in the wild is less than 100.

A very small number of Sumatran rhino is found on Kalimantan Island.

"The habitat of Sumatran rhinos living in West Kutai has been encroached by mining concession, and isolated. Rhino reproduction is unlikely, therefore the rhinos are in the brink of extinction," he said.

Translocation of Sumatran rhino is crucial to save Sumatran rhino, which is in critical situation, according to Wiratno, director general for the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Affairs.

The Indonesian Government is fully committed to semi-natural breeding of rhino and preservation of rhino in their natural habitats, he said.

Rhinos being accommodated in conservation areas will gradually be released to the wilderness, he added.

Reporting by Virna P Setyorini, fardah

Editor: Fardah Assegaf