KUALA LUMPUR: Promising news has surfaced of the recent birth of another rare Sumatran rhinoceros calf in Indonesia's national park, marking a significant milestone as this time it's a male.
The birth of the male calf at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Way Kambas National Park (SRS TNWK) on Nov 25 came about through the breeding of Harapan, a male rhinoceros, and Delilah, a female rhino native to the area.
According to the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, as a result of the semi-natural breeding initiatives, the sanctuary has witnessed five live births of Sumatran rhinos.
"We are grateful for the fifth birth at SRS TNWK, marking the second Sumatran rhino birth in 2023. This reaffirms the commitment of the Republic of Indonesia's Government in conserving rhinos in Indonesia, particularly the Sumatran rhino," said Siti Nurbaya's written statement on Nov 26.
The Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry's website reported that Harapan, the father of the newborn calf, was born in 2007 at the Cincinnati Zoo, United States, and was the last Sumatran rhino repatriated to Indonesia, signifying the absence of Sumatran rhinos outside the country.
The critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros is now exclusively confined to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the extinction of the two-horned Asian rhino was confirmed following the death of Tam, the country's last remaining male Sumatran rhinoceros, in 2019.
It was previously reported that a female calf from the same species was also born on Saturday at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) facility in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung province in the tropical Southeast Asian country.
The mother, 22-year-old Ratu, was in healthy condition, the ministry said. Ratu is a native of Lampung, while her mate, Andalas, aged 23, was born at the Cincinnati Zoo, United States, but has since moved to the same park as Ratu.
The pair previously had Delilah in 2016 and Andatu in 2012.