Image of a worker with a baby rhino and image of the baby rhino on its own

Veterinarians at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia look after Indra (left) and Anggi (right).

Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry via AP Images (veterinarian with Indra); Courtesy of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Anggi); Shutterstock.com (tear)

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The Race to Save Rhinos

Two Sumatran rhinos were recently born in Indonesia. Can they help save their species?

March 4, 2024
By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read, Think About: Why are the births of Indra and Anggi so important?

A Sumatran rhinoceros named Delilah slowly emerges from behind a thick canopy of trees. Trailing closely behind is her male calf, Indra. The mother and son splash around in a mud puddle before lying down side by side for a nap. 

Indra may seem like an ordinary rhino, but his birth last November at a sanctuary in Indonesia was cause for celebration. It followed the birth of another Sumatran rhino—a female named Anggi—at the same sanctuary just two months before. 

Why were their births such big news? Sumatran rhinos are among the most endangered animals on Earth. By some estimates, fewer than 50 of them are left in the wild. 

“Sumatran rhinos are really rare,” says Stacy Strother of the International Rhino Foundation. “So for this species, literally every single birth is a really big deal.”

A Sumatran rhinoceros named Delilah slowly emerges from behind a thick canopy of trees. Trailing closely behind is her male calf. His name is Indra. The mother and son splash around in a mud puddle. Then they lie down side by side for a nap.  

Indra seems like an ordinary rhino. But his birth last November at a sanctuary in Indonesia was cause for celebration. It followed the birth of another Sumatran rhino. A female named Anggi was born at the same sanctuary just two months before. 

Why were their births such big news? Sumatran rhinos are among the most endangered animals on Earth. By some estimates, fewer than 50 of them are left in the wild. 

“Sumatran rhinos are really rare,” says Stacy Strother of the International Rhino Foundation. “So for this species, literally every single birth is a really big deal.”

Courtesy of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Delilah and Indra take a mud bath. Mud cools rhinos’ skin and protects it from insects.

Rhinos at Risk

There are five rhino species spread out across Asia and Africa. In the early 1900s, as many as 500,000 roamed the wild. Today, that number is down to about 27,000. Sumatran rhinos are so rare they’re on the verge of becoming extinct.

One of the main reasons all rhinos are in trouble is poaching. Hunters illegally kill these huge mammals for their horns, which can sell for $300,000 each. 

The horns are often ground into a powder and used in traditional Asian medicines. Many people mistakenly believe that rhino horns can cure cancer and treat a variety of ailments. 

In reality, the horns don’t have any healing powers. They’re made of keratin, the same material found in human hair and nails.

Still, there’s a big demand for rhino horns. Poachers shoot the animals and saw off their horns, leaving the bodies behind.

Habitat loss is another major threat, especially for Sumatran rhinos. As the human population in Indonesia grows, more land is cleared to make room for roads, homes, and farmland. That leaves rhinos with fewer places to live. Plus, with so few rhinos in the wild, it’s hard to keep the population growing. 

There are five rhino species. They are spread out across Asia and Africa. In the early 1900s, as many as 500,000 roamed the wild. Today, that number is down to about 27,000. Sumatran rhinos are so rare they’re on the verge of becoming extinct.

One of the main reasons all rhinos are in trouble is poaching. Hunters illegally kill these huge mammals for their horns. One horn can sell for $300,000.  

The horns are often ground into a powder. This powder is used in traditional Asian medicines. Many people mistakenly believe that rhino horns can cure cancer. They also believe it can treat a variety of ailments. 

In reality, the horns don’t have any healing powers. They’re made of keratin. That’s the same material found in human hair and nails.

Still, there’s a big demand for rhino horns. Poachers shoot the animals and saw off their horns. Then they leave the bodies behind.

Habitat loss is another major threat. This is especially true for Sumatran rhinos. As the human population in Indonesia grows, more land is cleared to make room for roads, homes, and farmland. That leaves rhinos with fewer places to live. Plus, with so few rhinos in the wild, it’s hard to keep the population growing.   

Saving a Species

Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures

That’s why the arrival of Indra and Anggi was so important. They were born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. It was built in 1996 in the animals’ natural habitat in Way Kambas National Park. Veterinarians there run a breeding program to help restore the rhino population. Their goal is to eventually relocate the animals to the wild. 

Today, the sanctuary is home to 10 Sumatran rhinos. Armed guards protect the animals around the clock, and vets give them daily checkups.

Strother says Indra and Anggi are healthy and doing well. They’re both growing fast: Anggi already weighs about 300 pounds, and Indra weighs about 200! Their horns have started to appear too. The calves have made Strother even more optimistic that the species can make a comeback. 

“Rhinos have been on this planet for millions of years,” she says. “It’s our responsibility to keep them here as long as possible.”

That’s why the arrival of Indra and Anggi was so important. They were born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. It was built in 1996 in the animals’ natural habitat in Way Kambas National Park. Veterinarians there run a breeding program. They want to help restore the rhino population. Their goal is to eventually relocate the animals to the wild. 

Today, the sanctuary is home to 10 Sumatran rhinos. Armed guards protect the animals around the clock. Vets give the rhinos daily checkups.

Strother says Indra and Anggi are healthy and doing well. They’re both growing fast. Anggi already weighs about 300 pounds. And Indra weighs about 200! Their horns have started to appear too. The calves have made Strother even more optimistic that the species can make a comeback. 

“Rhinos have been on this planet for millions of years,” she says. “It’s our responsibility to keep them here as long as possible.”

Get to Know Sumatran Rhinos

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

  • In the wild, they live only on two islands in Indonesia.
  • In the wild, they live only on two islands in Indonesia.
  • Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the five rhino species. Still, they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure about 10 feet long. 
  • They’re also the hairiest rhinos. Newborns often have full coats of hair. Adults are covered with patches of short, dark, stiff hair.
  • Their horns are shorter than those of African rhinos. The front horn may be more than 2 feet long but is usually much shorter. The second horn often looks like a small bump.
  • Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the five rhino species. Still, they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure about 10 feet long. 
  • They’re also the hairiest rhinos. Newborns often have full coats of hair. Adults are covered with patches of short, dark, stiff hair.
  • Their horns are shorter than those of African rhinos. The front horn may be more than 2 feet long but is usually much shorter. The second horn often looks like a small bump.

1. Based on the article, what is poaching? What context clues in the text help you figure it out?

2. Based on what you’ve read, why do you think the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary has armed guards?

3. What is the purpose of the map in this article?

1. Based on the article, what is poaching? What context clues in the text help you figure it out?

2. Based on what you’ve read, why do you think the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary has armed guards?

3. What is the purpose of the map in this article?

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