The pandemic has not only affected economies, but also the global conservation movement. Indonesian has been working toward a new rhino sanctuary in the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh province. Sumatran rhino's (
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) are one of the world's most endangered species. The Indonesian government is trying to save this species from extinction in the wild through a captive breeding program that has met with mixed success. The country already has one such facility inside Way Kambas National Park. The second facility in Leuser was due to be completed in 2021, but due to the global pandemic slowdowns the project has been placed on hold.
Only twelve Sumatran rhinoceros are believed to inhabit Leuser's rainforest, one of the last suitable habitat remaining on the island. About 30-80 are estimated to be still living free. Since March Indonesia has recorded the second highest number of human deaths from the novel corona virus disease in East Asia, despite measures to curb the spread of SARS CoV-2.
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| Harapan, a captive male at Way Kambas NP, credit: J. Hanafi |
The planned sanctuary will cover 100 hectares in an intact ecosystem that is the only place on Earth that is home to rhinos, tigers orangutans and elephants. Consequently, it is biologically unique. Conservationist still have limited knowledge of the mountainous rain forest, and it is believed that poaching occurs at a high level. The environmental ministry plans to capture five wild rhinos and move them into the sanctuary to begin captive breeding. Biologists did not determine until 2017 that captive breeding is the only way to save the species from disappearing. Indonesia is now the final refuge of the species.
Malaysia lost its last captive rhino, Iman, who died last November of uterine tumors at age 25. Indonesia has eight captive rhinos in two sanctuaries, Way Kambas NP and the Ketian forest on Borneo.
Hopefully this renewed effort to save the rhinos of Sumatra will meet with more success than the previous program in the 1980s, which collapsed after a decade when more than half the captives died without breeding. A series of successful breeding efforts in the US and Indonesia since then have motivated officials to try again to save the species from certain extinction.
