Cincinnati Zoo sending endangered rhino to Indonesia

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will send the last Sumantran rhino in the Western Hemosphere to Indonesia in an attempt to save the endangered species. Experts said the development of the south-east Asia forest habitat and the poachers seeking the prized horns of the rhinos caused their extinction.

Cincinnati’s zoo has been a pioneer in breeding the species, also called “hairy rhinos”, producing the first three born in captivity in modern times.

Now, 8-year-old Harapan will go to his ancestral home to join 14-year-old Andalas, who has so far managed to sire one male offspring since arriving in Indonesia in 2007. Andalas will turn 14 next month.

Roth said final details and permits are still being worked out so the transfer timetable is uncertain.

Havmoller is the lead author of a new report on the health of the Sumatran rhino, published in Oryx, the global Journal of Conservation.

The Cincinnati Zoo’s Sumatran rhino, the only one on public display in the world, will leave the Zoo permanently in October to live in Indonesia.

“Despite the great personal sadness so many of us feel both about Harapan leaving and Cincinnati Zoo’s Sumatran rhino breeding program coming to an end, we need to focus on all we have accomplished, for there is much to celebrate”. Reinhart and Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Jenny Nollman will accompany Harapan on his journey. Harapan was born after his older brother Andalas, and their sister, Suci, who died from illness in 2014 at the zoo. He also spent time in Florida’s White Oak conservation center.

There are 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the world.

Recently, researchers announced the extant species can no longer be found in the wilds of Malaysia.

Conservationists and government officials gathered in Singapore in 2013 for a Sumatran Rhino Crisis Summit to discuss increasing action to protect the species.

South Africa has struggled to counter poaching syndicates cashing in on rising demand for rhino horns in parts of Asia where some people believe they have medicinal properties for treating everything from hangovers to cancer.