She is here ! Rare baby Sumatran rhino born in a rhino sanctuary
- The Indonesian Ministry of Environment announced in March the birth of a baby Sumatran rhino.
- This calf is the first born in captivity in nearly six years, stoking optimism for the captive breeding program in Sumatra’s Way Kambas National Park.
- This bonus episode of the Mongabay Explores podcast features senior writer Basten Gokkon on the yet-unnamed female rhino calf, and what it means for the future of this critically endangered mammal.
For this bonus episode of the Mongabay Explores podcast, we chat with Mongabay Senior Indonesia Editor Basten Gokkon about the significance of the recent birth of a Sumatran rhino in captivity, and what it means for the prospects of the critically endangered species. Listen now:
The Sumatran rhinoceros is a critically endangered mammal, with no more than 80 individuals believed to remain in the wild. Poaching and habitat loss due to forest degradation for extractive industries such as palm oil have pushed the species to the brink of extinction.
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Previous conversations on the Mongabay Explores podcast include a conversation with a conservation biologist Wulan Pusparini and author Jeremy Hance on the conservation challenges scientists and experts have faced for decades. Listen to this conversation here:
Mongabay arranged a follow-up conversation with Pusparini to discuss “search and rescue” efforts to capture rhinos from non-viable wild populations and move them into a captive breeding program. Listen to this conversation here:
Mongabay Explores is an episodic podcast about the world’s unique places and species. Each season plunges into new areas with astonishing natural heritage, their environmental challenges and their conservation solutions. The most recent season explored the great biodiversity and cultural richness of New Guinea. If you missed this seven-part series, you can listen to every episode here.
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Banner image: Rosa and her child. Image courtesy of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Mike Di Girolamo is Mongabay’s Public Engagement Associate. Find him on Twitter @MikeDiGirolamo, instagramor ICT Tac via @midigirolamo.