Sumatran rhinoceroses are now considered extinct in the wild in Malaysia, says leading scientists and experts in rhino conservation. There are now less than 100 such rhinos present in the wild in Indonesia and nine rhinos in captivity, and now on them survival of Sumatran rhinos is dependent.
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The intensive management zones as well as the single population strategy are two of four key actions identified back in April 2013 at the Sumatran Rhino Crisis Summit in Singapore and agreed upon that same year by the Indonesian government in the Bandar Lampung Declaration. The only rhinos left in the wild are in Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sumatra. This means that, most likely, the rhino is extinct in the wild in Malaysia.
The recent announcement highlights the importance of increased conservation efforts in Indonesia to prevent the same thing from occurring there. In detail, he suggested the establishment of protection zones, habitat management, extensive study on now known habitats, captive breeding, and mobilization of the local government units including residents of the concerned area. However because of hunting and habitat loss this species has become one of the rarest seen species of large mammals.
Co-author and director of the Rhino Foundation Widodo Ramono emphasized the call for serious governmental efforts.
Sumatran rhinos have poor eyesight and that is why they rely more on their other senses, smell and hearing.
“It is vital for the survival of the species that all remaining Sumatran rhinos are viewed as a metapopulation, meaning that all are managed in a single program across national and global borders in order to maximize overall birth rate”.
A Sumatran rhino’s wide ear flaps allow excellent hearing, coupled with thick layers of hair and sturdy horns. A particular feature through which the animal can be recognized is its two deep skin folds which encircle its body between the legs and the trunk. An average rhino weighs about 500 to 1,000 kilos and can grow up to 1.12 to 1.45 meters.
“This includes the individuals now held in captivity”, added Gren Havmøller, who is the lead author of the report declaring the extinction that was published in Oryx, the worldwide Journal of Conservation.
Aside from populations of the Sumatran rhinos in the wild, nine individual rhinoceroses are being held in captivity.
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According to their study, remaining rhinos in Indonesia are spread among three separate populations, one of which has experienced a significant decline in its range.
