Riau's rhinos face extinction

PEKANBARU, Riau: the Natural Resources Preservation Forum said on Friday that the two-horned rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) was facing extinction due to the destruction of its habitat, with only five of the species left in their natural habitat in Rokan Hulu, Riau.

Head of the forum Bismark Tampubolon expressed concern that the remaining rhinos would leave their fast-disappearing habitat and head for the border, where there were many illegal hunters.

Sumatra rhinos are included on the list of endangered species.

In a bid to save the species from extinction, 11 rhinos were captured from 1986 through 1992. Four of them were sent to Britain, one to Malaysia, and the rest to Safari Park in Cisarua, Bogor and Surabaya zoo. -- Antara