Title: Sumatran Rhino Found in Kalimantan after 20 years of being unseen
Author: Kathryn Pintus
Date: 03.04.2013.
Publication: Environmental News Network
The Sumatran Rhino is one of the world's most endangered mammals. There are only about 240 individuals of this species left in the wild. The Sumatran Rhino used to be a common sight all over Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Himalayan foothills, southern China, Vietnam, continental Malaysia, and Lao, but this range has been reduced to a bare minimum through years of habitat destruction and over-hunting.
It is difficult for rhinos to survive as they breed rarely and only give birth to a small number of offspring. In a fragmented habitat and a decreased population, this makes for a major obstacle and difficulty in continuing the species. There have even been reports of rhinos being the only present individuals of their species in a specific forest fragment. The rarity of a species also makes it difficult for scientists to monitor them - as single individuals are harder to spot.
The Sumatran Rhinos were once common in Borneo, but one has not been seen there in over 20 years - until now. Scientists have found indications that there are still individuals of this species in Kalimantan (Borneo). Even though an actual rhino has not been spotted, there were several other findings that make it almost impossible to say that there are not any left (including footprints, signs of feeding, tree markings, and mud wallows). This finding also serves as a ''new record on the presence of Sumatran rhinos in East Kalimantan and especially in West Kutai'' (- Bambang Noviyanto, director for biodiversity conservation at the Forestry Ministry)
There is, however, no indication of whether there is a small group of rhinos or just a single individual. Scientists believe that even if there is a group, the probability of it being large is very small. John Payne, a scientist at the BORA (Borneo Rhino Alliance) explained that ''The fact that this discovery comes more than a decade after the last evidence of the species in Kalimantan, despite the opening up of previously remote areas during that period, suggests that this might be just one or a small number of individuals.''
Author: Kathryn Pintus
Date: 03.04.2013.
Publication: Environmental News Network
The Sumatran Rhino is one of the world's most endangered mammals. There are only about 240 individuals of this species left in the wild. The Sumatran Rhino used to be a common sight all over Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Himalayan foothills, southern China, Vietnam, continental Malaysia, and Lao, but this range has been reduced to a bare minimum through years of habitat destruction and over-hunting.
It is difficult for rhinos to survive as they breed rarely and only give birth to a small number of offspring. In a fragmented habitat and a decreased population, this makes for a major obstacle and difficulty in continuing the species. There have even been reports of rhinos being the only present individuals of their species in a specific forest fragment. The rarity of a species also makes it difficult for scientists to monitor them - as single individuals are harder to spot.
The Sumatran Rhinos were once common in Borneo, but one has not been seen there in over 20 years - until now. Scientists have found indications that there are still individuals of this species in Kalimantan (Borneo). Even though an actual rhino has not been spotted, there were several other findings that make it almost impossible to say that there are not any left (including footprints, signs of feeding, tree markings, and mud wallows). This finding also serves as a ''new record on the presence of Sumatran rhinos in East Kalimantan and especially in West Kutai'' (- Bambang Noviyanto, director for biodiversity conservation at the Forestry Ministry)
There is, however, no indication of whether there is a small group of rhinos or just a single individual. Scientists believe that even if there is a group, the probability of it being large is very small. John Payne, a scientist at the BORA (Borneo Rhino Alliance) explained that ''The fact that this discovery comes more than a decade after the last evidence of the species in Kalimantan, despite the opening up of previously remote areas during that period, suggests that this might be just one or a small number of individuals.''
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