The Bornean rhinoceros is currently facing a very dangerous situation because only two females remain alive. These two represent the final hope to keep their unique subspecies from disappearing forever.
One female named Pari Mahulu still lives in the wild forests of East Kalimantan today. The other female, Pahu, is already being protected and cared for in a special sanctuary.
These rhinos cannot have babies on their own in the wild, because there are no males left. This crisis has forced the Indonesian government to take extreme and high-tech steps to save them.
Scientists and officials are now working together on a desperate mission to preserve their genetic history. They believe that doing nothing would lead to certain extinction within a very short time.
The Rare Bornean Rhinoceros
The Bornean rhinoceros, known scientifically as Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni, is a unique subspecies found only on the island of Borneo. The Bornean is the smallest of all extant rhinos. It is a subspecies of the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.
Adult Bornean rhinos weigh between 600 and 950 kg. They are 1 to 1.5 meters tall and 2 to 3 meters long. This rhino has a smaller head and the darkest skin of all Sumatran rhinos.
Baby rhinos have thick hair, but it becomes thinner and darker as they grow up. They also have hairy ears, wrinkles around their eyes, and a special lip for grabbing food, just like the Black rhino.
However, habitat loss and hunting have reduced their known population to just two individuals. These animals are like living diamonds because they are so rare and valuable to Indonesia's biodiversity.
Pari Mahulu is especially significant because she is the very last of her kind still roaming free in Mahakam Ulu. Experts say her young age and healthy condition are the most important assets for the subspecies' survival.
If she dies without help, the entire evolutionary history of the Bornean rhino could vanish instantly. The mission to save her is a race against a ticking clock that nature cannot stop alone.
The East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is leading the charge to save these two rhinos. In June 2026, they held a major meeting in Balikpapan to finalize a daring rescue operation for Pari.
The government decided that leaving Pari alone in the wild was essentially a death sentence for her lineage. Therefore, they are preparing to capture her and move her to the Kelian Rhino Sanctuary.
This move is very difficult and requires a custom-designed helicopter transport to handle the rugged terrain. Workers are currently finishing a special quarantine area called a boma to help her adjust safely.
She will spend three months there under close medical supervision to ensure she stays healthy and calm. After that, she will move to a larger permanent home called a paddock that is being built specifically for her.
The IVF Program
The most ambitious part of the plan involves using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology. Since there are no Bornean males, scientists will harvest eggs from Pari to fertilize them in a specialized lab.
Experts chose Pari for the IVF project because she is young, healthy, and has a good chance of giving healthy eggs. BKSDA wants to move her to the Kelian Rhino Sanctuary to create a new generation of rhinos in a lab.
On the other hand, Pahu is older and already has health problems. Thus, Pahu can no longer help start the reproduction program.
They plan to use frozen sperm from male Sumatran rhinos because the two subspecies are very close relatives. Natural breeding is not possible because Sumatran rhinos are much larger and might harm the smaller Bornean female.
If the team can successfully create an embryo, they may use a surrogate mother to carry the baby to term. This high-tech approach is the only way to keep the Bornean rhino's DNA alive for the future.
The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry says this effort is a matter of national accountability to the world. They want to ensure future generations can see these magnificent rhinos in real life rather than just in books.
