Way Kambas breeding program for Sumatran rhinos launched<\/p>\n
Text and photo
\nby Mulkan Salmona<\/p>\n
WAY KAMBAS, Lampung (JP): There are many endangered species in
\nIndonesia badly in need of protection. One of them is the
\nSumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Ten years ago,
\nthese rhinos numbered about 500, but today, there is only about
\nhalf of that amount.<\/p>\n
A breeding program was launched recently in Way Kambas
\nNational Park, Lampung, in an effort to save the rhinos from
\nextinction.<\/p>\n
\"If the Sumatran rhinoceros breeding program is successful,
\nthere will be a significant increase in their population and the
\nworld will be surprised,\" head of the Foundation of Indonesian
\nNature Conservation, Prof. Rubini Atmawidjaja, said after
\nlaunching the program on March 29.<\/p>\n
\"Until today, there has not been a breeding system which has
\nbeen successful in increasing the rhino population. What's
\nhappening is, the numbers are not increasing but decreasing,\"
\nsaid Rubini, a former director general of Forest Protection and
\nNature Conservation (PHPA).<\/p>\n
The same view was made by PHPA's current director general,
\nSoemarsono, in his speech at the inauguration.<\/p>\n
\"It's the first time for Indonesia to conduct such a program
\nto preserve the rhinoceroses. In 1985, a breeding program was
\nstarted in a number of zoos in cooperation with the Howletts
\nfoundation in England and the American Zoo Foundation, but it
\nfailed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eleven of 18 Sumatran rhinos which were sent to zoos for the
\nbreeding program died. Four died in an American zoo, one died in
\nMalaka zoo in Malaysia, one in Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta, two in
\nSurabaya Zoo, one in the Indonesian Safari Park, West Java, and
\ntwo in Howletts Zoo. Causes of deaths were: digestion problems,
\nkidney problems and bleeding due to violence copulation.<\/p>\n
Being aware of the problems, the parties concerned with
\nrhinoceros conservation, like PHPA, Indonesian Safari Park,
\nInternational Rhino Foundation and the Foundation of the Friends
\nof Rhinos, initiated the breeding program in Way Kambas National
\nPark. Here, they will breed the rhinos in their natural habitat,
\nwhich they have called the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary.<\/p>\n
The sanctuary is located in a 100-hectare area of the park.
\nThe rhinos will be divided into 10 \"nature cages\" measuring 10
\nhectares each. One \"cage\" is for one rhino. Once in six months,
\nthe rhino will be moved to another cage. A regreening program
\nwill be applied to the unoccupied cages to minimize the impact of
\nthe environmental destruction caused by the rhino's activities.<\/p>\n
Fences<\/p>\n
Electric fences are being built in the sanctuary as cage
\nborders, so that the rhinos won't be able to get out and to
\nprevent rhinos from entering each others cages. The installment
\nof the 170-centimeter-high, 7,000-volt fences is scheduled to be
\ncompleted by July, so that the breeding program can start.<\/p>\n
Once the fences have been installed, two rhinos from the
\nSafari Park and a female rhino from Ragunan Zoo will be sent to
\nthe sanctuary. One male rhino from Howletts Zoo will join them
\nsoon. During the next year, one male rhino and two female
\nSumatran rhinos from America will be sent there. It is expected
\nthat the seven rhinos in the sanctuary will reproduce naturally
\nbecause they get their food naturally and they behave naturally.<\/p>\n
There is also a plan to make the sanctuary more than just a
\nbreeding center of Sumatran rhinos. It will be made into a
\ntourism destination. The sanctuary's management will develop a
\ntourist resort in Way Kanan, located about five kilometers from
\nthe breeding center. The river near Way Kanan has clear water and
\nwill be able to be used for cruises.<\/p>\n
The rhino sanctuary management is aware that it is not easy to
\nadminister ecotourism. This should be handled in cooperation with
\nexperienced people and experts. Hopefully, all the good plans
\nwill work.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/way-kambas-breeding-program-for-sumatran-rhinos-launched-1447893297",
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