First Baby Born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary

[tabatha]

At 12:40 am on Saturday, June 23rd, Ratu, one of the three adult female rhinos at Indonesia’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, gave birth to a 60-lb male calf. Not only was this Ratu’s first baby, but it was the first Sumatran rhino ever born in captivity in Indonesia and only the fifth ever born in captivity worldwide.

“This is a historic birth because Sumatran rhinos are on the brink of extinction,” said Novianto Bambang, director of biodiversity conservation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. Biologists estimate that only 150 to 200 individuals survive in Indonesia and Sabah, Malaysia.

The baby was born after a 16-month gestation period, which is about average for African and Asian rhino species. Indonesian veterinarian, Dr. Dedi Candra, managed Ratu’s pregnancy on a daily basis, with help from Dr. Terri Roth of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, which has bred more Sumatran rhinos in captivity than any other institution. The baby’s father, Andalas, in fact, was born there in 2001. After spending several years at the Los Angeles Zoo, Andalas was sent to Indonesia with hopes that he would breed Ratu and the other female rhinos in residence.

http://www.rhinos.org/news-room/first-baby-born-at-the-sumatran-rhino-sanctuary

More pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhinosirf/

(*** I was looking for an Environment > Conservation topic to put this under *** )

[nashville_brook]

1. k and r for baby rhino picture!

[joeybee12]

2. Cuteness overload!!!

KNR

[Solly Mack]

3. :)

[eppur_se_muova]

4. There's an Environment/Energy Group ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1127

[SidDithers]

5. Oh. A baby rhino...

that makes much more sense.



Sid

[AtomicKitten]

6. Awww.

[Omaha Steve]

7. K&R!