Photo: MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY/AFP via Getty
Conservationists are excited about the birth of a female Sumatran rhino in Indonesia.
The name of the rhino has not yet been disclosed.
The arrival of this new calf brings the number of Sumatran rhinos at the sanctuary to eight and gives conservationists hope for the future of this rare animal, per NBC News.
“The birth of the Sumatran rhino is good news amid the efforts of the Indonesian government and partners to increase the Sumatran rhino population,” Wiratno, the director general of conservation at the environment ministry, said in a statement, per NBC News. The outlet added that it is common for Indonesians only use one name.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY/AFP via Getty
The last male Sumatran rhino in Malaysiadied in 2019. The late rhino, named Tam, had been suffering from kidney and liver disease before his death, The Borneo Rhino Alliance shared at the time of the animal’s passing.
According toNational Geographic,less than 80 Sumatran rhinosnow live outside of human captivity. The species is considered functionally extinct — meaning there are not enough of the animals left to sufficiently repopulate the species to save it from extinction.
Over the years, Sumatran rhinos have faced widespread poaching as well as habitat loss, which has contributed to driving the animal to the brink of extinction.
source: people.com
