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Cincinnati Zoo Sends Last Sumatran Rhino To Indonesia

Sumatran Rhino

The Cincinnati Zoo that houses the last Sumatran rhino in the United States will be sending the endangered animal to Indonesia on a mission to mate, officials announced Tuesday.

This move marks the end of the breeding program for the rhinos at the zoo, reports Fox News. Cincinnati is the only place in the world, outside of Indonesia, that has successfully bred the endangered rhinos in the last century.

Harapan is the only Sumatran Rhino living outside of Southeast Asia. He was the third calf born at the zoo.

Harapan is one of only 100 Sumatran Rhinos left in the world; nine of those are in captivity. “The opportunity for him to breed and contribute to his species survival exists only at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary,” said Dr. Terri Roth, longtime head of the zoo’s Center for Research of Endangered Wildlife.

He is now 8-years-old and sexually mature. The opportunity for him to breed and contribute to his species survival exists only at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary.

According to The New York Times, Harapan will join Andalas — who was also bred at the zoo and has been in Indonesia since 2007 – and his male offspring along with three females at the sanctuary.

While the zoo is sad to see Harapan go, Dr. Roth says, “it’s the right thing, to at least have Harapan able to contribute to survival of the species.”

We are very sad about the (Sumatran rhino) program coming to an end here in Cincinnati. It’s a huge loss for us. But it’s the right thing, to at least have Harapan able to contribute to survival of the species.

Harapan’s journey will be a long one, according to Dr. Roth. While final details are still being worked out, it is expected the rhino will fly to Jakarat then travel by ferry to Sumatra. Cincinnati Zoo’s most experienced rhino keeper and a member of the veterinary staff will accompany him. Harapan is expected to leave the zoo in October.

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