User:Bsgray2/Sumatran Rhino U.S. Research Comes to a Halt

After three successful births in the U.S., Indonesia refuses to send more Sumatran Rhinos, increasing risk for extinction.

In 1987, the U.S. and Indonesia joined efforts to save the endangered Sumatran Rhinos. Due to poaching, medicinal purposes and a desire to gain prestigious status, this species' double horns make them a target for hunters. Indonesia captured rhinos in areas where their habitat was being destroyed and agreed to give half of the animals captured to the U.S. for breeding research.

A total of seven rhinos were sent to the U.S. from 1988 to 1991 after the agreement was signed. Only three survived due to insufficient nourishment. In 1996, all three surviving rhinos, Emi, Rapunzel, and Ipuh, were moved to the Cincinnati Zoo to begin reproduction research and breeding.

The solitary nature of Sumatran Rhinos and aggressive behavior makes breeding difficult to achieve. The animals could only be near each other during the female's ovulation cycle. After much research led by Terri Roth, director of the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at Cincinnati Zoo, and five lost pregnancies, researchers began feeding progesterone hormone soaked bread to Emi to increase her chances of giving birth. In 2001, Emi gave birth to Andalas, the first rhino born in captivity in 112 years. Emi continued to give birth to Suci in 2004 and Harapan in 2007 with no hormone assistance.

"I kind of went with my gut instinct, which said 'You know what, just like a human, once you carry a pregnancy to term, there's this tendency to be more fertile and more capable of carrying the next one to term.'" Roth said.

The Cincinnati Zoo sent Andalas to Indonesia after its success with breeding Sumatran Rhinos. After many failed breeding attempts in Indonesia, the Cincinnati Zoo sent the progesterone hormone in hopes it would increase chances of a pregnancy. In 2012, Indonesia had their first successful birth of a Sumatran Rhino calf.

There are only an estimated 100 rhinos left in Sumatra. With the efforts of Rhino Protection Units, actions are being taken to deter further endangerment. The U.S. will not be given anymore Sumatran Rhinos to protect further danger and to preserve the existence of rhinos in Asia. Roth said it is important for Indonesia to breed rhinos in country, it is a matter of national pride.

"The odds are against us..." Roth said, "this will be a tough one to save."