East Lampung  – Male Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Harapan, finally returns home to Indonesia. After 60 hours of travel from Cincinnati Zoo in the United States, Harapan arrives at the rhinoceros conservation center in Way Kambas National Park.

Harapan reached Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung on Monday (2/11) at 02.30 Western Indonesia Time. For 60 hours he had to endure transportation by air, sea and land. “After waiting for so long, Harapan is finally returned home to Indonesia. He came in good health. Harapan is now placed in the Sumatran Rhinoceros Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park,” said Sukatmoko, the park’s public relations officer.

Upon arrival in Way Kambas, Harapan was immediately disinfected. He will be quarantined for a few days to help adapt. During quarantine, Harapan will be monitored by one vet and a keeper. “The vet in SRS will be assisted by a keeper from Cincinnati Zoo. Hopefully he will feel at home living in this new place which is actually his natural habitat,” said Sukatmoko.

In SRS, each rhino lives in an enclosed area of 20 hectares. The facility owns an area of 9000 hectares and 100 hectares are currently used for 5 resident rhinos. The 5 rhinos are females Ratu, Rosa and Bina, and males Andalas and Andatu.

Way Kambas National Park veterinarian, Dedi Candra, explained the Sumatran Rhinoceros are solitary animals used to living alone. “Rhinos will only come together with other rhinos during mating season. That’s why rhinos in SRS live in solitary enclosures to separate one individual from another,” he said.

Harapan is one of three Sumatran Rhinos born from rhinos Emi and Ipuh in Cincinnati Zoo. The two rhinos produced Andalas, Suci and Harapan. Andalas was returned to Indonesia in 2007, while Suci died in Cincinnati Zoo on March 30, 2013. In Indonesia, Andalas was mated with Ratu which gave birth to Andatu on June 23, 2012.

Sad goodbyes

The rhinoceros conservation program in Cincinnati Zoo has become the center of attention of experts there. Before releasing Harapan, the zoo informed visitors of the last days they can see the rhino.

Terry Roth, Director of Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife spoke to the media. Roth was sad to say goodbye to Harapan, but returning the rhino to Indonesia is an important contribution to the conservation of the species. Roth said Harapan is the only Sumatran Rhino living outside of Southeast Asia. “He is the third rhino born in Cincinnati Zoo which is now 8 years old,” said Roth.

The program to return rhinos to its natural habitat is giving the animals an opportunity to breed and contribute to the survival of the species in its natural habitat in Sumatra. “He (Harapan) must be given the opportunity to contribute to its species because now they are at the brink of extinction. There are only 100 Sumatran Rhinos left. Only 9 of them are kept in sanctuaries. In 1995, when I started to work as the crew director, the Zoo Director at that time told me that Sumatran Rhino breeding should be a high priority for the crew. Through the use of endocrinology and ultrasonography techniques for behavior observation and amazing teamwork, we finally succeeded in unravelling the mysteries around Sumatran Rhinoceros reproduction. Finally the rhinos at Cincinnati Zoo were able to breed,” said Roth.

Andalas is the first rhino born and raised in Cincinnati. Suci was born in 2004 and Harapan in 2007. Cincinnati Zoo has collaborated with colleagues from Indonesia and Malaysia to transfer the knowledge. Hence, Indonesia no longer has to send Sumatran Rhinos to the US. However, rhinos born and the role of Cincinnati Zoo will always be a permanent and significant part of the zoo’s history.

“We want to hear news of more Sumatran Rhino offsprings born in their natural habitat in Sumatra. Although this species is critically endangered, we believe there is still time to save the Sumatran Rhinoceros,” said Roth. (Amir Sodikin)

Source: Kompas.com