Four rhinos to come home

Four rhinos to come home

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Four two-horned rhinoceros
(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) would be returned home from London as
soon as their breeding area in Way Kambas National Park, Central
Lampung, was ready, an official said yesterday.

Head of the local forestry office Eko Wardoyo was quoted by
Antara saying the breeding area, to be completed by the end of
this year, would cover 10 hectares inside the national park.

Wardoyo said the return of the four rhinos to Indonesia was
planned several years ago. "The plan could not be materialized
yet because we have to prepare the breeding area first," he said.

The return of the rhinos to Indonesia has been supported by
the International Rhino Foundation, a non-governmental
organization (NGO) active in the efforts to preserve the rare
animal.

Meanwhile, chief of the environmental preservation bureau in
Lampung, Haryanto WS, said in London the rhinos were apparently
suffering from stress, which is why they were unable to breed in
their London breeding area. (swe)