Rhinos seen in Kalimantan park

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Locals claim to have seen several two-horned rhinoceroses roaming the Kayan Mentarang National Park near the border of East Kalimantan and Malaysia's Sarawak state earlier this week.

The head of the Nature Conservation Department of the provincial forestry ministry, Ade Rachman, told Antara the sightings were "extraordinary".

"East Kalimantan used to be the habitat of two-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros Sondaicus), but the species have long been considered extinct," Ade said.

The rhinos, Ade said, were similar to the two-horned Sumatra rhinos (Dicerorhunus Sumatrensis). "We have asked the Rhino Partnership Foundation in Jakarta to investigate the sightings," Ade said.

The Jakarta-based foundation seeks and protects rhinos.

Locals have also seen wild elephants in the park.

Ade said the elephants had not originated from East Kalimantan. "If there are elephants inside, it would be extraordinary."

The World Wildlife Fund has been investigating the sightings.

The national park is famous for its biodiversity. It has 15 native species of mammal, eight species of primate and 277 bird species.

The 1,360,000-hectare park is the largest in Indonesia, it extends over six districts and 234 villages. (12)