UPDATE: National Geographic reports that Najaq, the first Sumatran rhino seen in the wild in 40 years, has died due to an infection.
Nijaq’s health deteriorated over the last few days due to an infection in her leg. Officials are unsure as to what caused the infection, but the trapping process is a possibility. Officials are currently conducting a post-mortem study to determine the cause of death. Nijaq was thought to be four or five years old.
“Our hearts are saddened by this devastating news from Kalimantan.” said the International Rhino Foundation on Thursday.
“The death of this Sumatran rhino proves they exist on Borneo, so we will continue protecting them,” stated Achrir Fathoni, a senior official at the environment ministry.
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Sumatran rhinos were long thought be extinct on the island of Borneo when hidden cameras caught glimpses of one in 2013. Now, the good news continues, as WWF researchers are celebrating the first live sighting of a Sumatran rhino in the area for more than 40 years—an enormous milestone for the species in Indonesia.
“This is an exciting discovery and a major conservation success,” said Dr. Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia, in a WWF statement. “We now have proof that a species once thought extinct in Kalimantan still roams the forests, and we will now strengthen our efforts to protect this extraordinary species.”
The rhino in question is believed to be female, between four and five years old. She was captured safely in a pit trap on March 12 in Kutai Barat, in an area near mining operations and plantations. For now, she is being held in a temporary enclosure, but eventually she will be moved by helicopter to a new home—a protected forest roughly 95 miles (150 km) from where she was captured, which many hope will become the second Sumatran rhino sanctuary in Indonesia.
A struggling population
Since 2013, 15 Sumatran rhinos have been identified as living in the Kutai Barat area, spread across three populations. All in all, it’s estimated that 100 Sumatran rhinos are living in the wild—and most of those can be found on another Indonesian island, Sumatra.
The populations have become increasingly endangered over the years thanks to poaching and habitat loss driven by mining, logging, and plantations. The Malaysian portion of the island of Borneo no longer contains any Sumatran rhinos whatsoever; the wild population there was declared extinct just last year.
“This is a race against time for rhino conservation. Providing a safe home is the only hope for the survival of the Sumatran rhino for many generations to come,” said Dr. Efransjah. “WWF will work continuously with the Sumatran rhino conservation team for the protection of the Sumatran rhino population in Kalimantan.”
Conservationists have also achieved a small victory in regards to the other rhino species in Indonesia: the critically endangered Javan rhino. The Javan rhinos can only be found in one place on Earth—the Ujung Kulon National Park—but the tiny population of 60 rhinos has just been increased by 5 percent, as three new calves were recently born.
Which makes the live sighting of a Sumatran rhino discovery even more amazing.
“This unprecedented discovery and unparalleled operation boosts our hope to save one of the most endangered species and an iconic symbol of the majestic Asian rainforests,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. “This is an exciting moment in our efforts to save the world’s amazing biodiversity.”
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Image credit: World Wildlife Fund
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