"Sumatran Rhino Reborn in Way Kambas National Park, Record Two Rhino Babies in a Year"
A male Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) was recently born on Saturday, (11/25/2023) at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park (SRS TNWK).
The newborn rhino was discovered at 8:19 AM and estimated to have been born at 4:00 AM by the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary team managed by the Indonesian Rhino Foundation.
This baby rhino marks the first birth and remains unnamed from the pairing of the 7-year-old female rhino, Delilah, and a rhino named Harapan.
"Based on the report we received, Delilah gave birth to a male calf unexpectedly at around 4:00 AM on Saturday (11/25/2023), on her 460th day of gestation, 10 days earlier than the estimated delivery," stated Satyawan Pudyatmoko, Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
"By 8:19 AM, Delilah was found with her calf in the forest by the SRS TNWK animal keepers," he added.
Satyawan further mentioned that both the mother and the baby rhino were observed to be in good health. The baby rhino is now able to stand and walk on its own.
Shortly after being discovered, the calf was seen nursing from its mother while standing.
Currently, the mother and calf are in the care enclosure (boma) at SRS TNWK, with the calf weighing approximately 25 kilograms.
The SRS TNWK, managed by the Way Kambas National Park Office in collaboration with the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, is situated within a special zone of Way Kambas National Park.
Its aim is to produce Sumatran rhino offspring to sustain the survival of the Sumatran rhino species, which is currently critically endangered.
"The Sumatran rhino offspring resulting from the breeding program at SRS TNWK will eventually be reintroduced into their natural habitat," stated Satyawan Pudyatmoko. Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, expressed that with the birth of this rhino baby, SRS TNWK has set a world record with the birth of five Sumatran rhinos through semi-natural breeding efforts.
These five rhinos include Andatu born in 2012, Delilah born in 2016, Sedah Mirah born in 2022 as the third offspring of female Ratu and male Andalas on September 30, 2023.
And the recent offspring of Delilah and Harapan, born last Saturday, 11/25/2023.
"We are grateful for the fifth birth at SRS TNWK. This birth also marks the second Sumatran rhino birth in 2023. This further underscores the commitment of the Republic of Indonesia in conserving rhinos in Indonesia, especially the Sumatran rhinos," said Minister Siti Nurbaya.
Delilah was born from the second mating between female Ratu and male Andalas at SRS TNWK in 2016. Harapan is the last Sumatran rhino repatriated to Indonesia in 2015, born from the mating of female Emi and male Ipuh at the Cincinnati Zoo, United States, in 2007.
Jansen Manansang, Executive Director of YABI, added that the birth of Delilah's first offspring is a result of natural mating at SRS TNWK.
The Indonesian Rhino Foundation remains committed to supporting rhino conservation programs in Indonesia.
The Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is protected in Indonesia under Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 106 of 2018.
According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of the Sumatran rhino is currently critically endangered (CR).
The fifth birth at SRS TNWK provides encouragement to continue efforts to preserve the Sumatran rhino.
