Birth of Second Sumatran Rhino Calf Gives Conservationists Hope for Species’ Survival

The Sumatran rhino population in Malaysia has been declared extinct after the death of the last female due to cancer. However, conservationists have been given a glimmer of hope with the birth of a second Sumatran rhino in Indonesia this year.

The 55-pound male calf was born on Saturday at a sanctuary for Sumatran rhinos in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province, at the southern tip of Sumatra island. The calf was fathered by a male named Harapan, who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2006 and was the last Sumatran rhino in the world to be repatriated to Indonesia.

The Sumatran rhino population is now estimated to be fewer than 50 animals, making it one of the world’s most endangered species. Conservationists are hopeful that the birth of the calf will help to boost the population of the species, and that more Sumatran rhinos will be born in the future.

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest of the five rhino species and is found only in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is estimated that the species has been around for at least 10,000 years, but its population has been in decline due to poaching and habitat loss.

The Sumatran rhino is a critically endangered species, and conservationists are hopeful that the birth of the calf will help to boost the population of the species and ensure its survival.