I agree. It's a difficult situation but it's probably best for the species if he joins one of the SE Asian breeding projects.
However, part of me desperately hopes that he sticks around a while longer - I might be able to visit at the end of June.
I think its safer for him healthwise to be in Sumatra- that's no reflection on Cincinnati's care but there may be something these Rhinos lack in captivity in foreign climates. I can't see how he can contribute breeding-wise at present in Sumatra but possibly he could in the future.
I imagine even if a move is already planned, it will be some months before he actually leaves- these sort of transfers always seem to take forever with all the technical issues, permits etc. then there are the vetinary preparations, such as they did with Andalas, in order to prepare him for life in a tropical climate.
I agree. It's a difficult situation but it's probably best for the species if he joins one of the SE Asian breeding projects.
However, part of me desperately hopes that he sticks around a while longer - I might be able to visit at the end of June.
I can guarantee he will most likely stay by then. Sending him away 2 months or earlier from now seems like a bit of a rush.
To be honest I won't be upset when Harry departs. I am more than grateful that I live 20 minutes away from this rare species and I have taken my opportunities to see Ipuh, Emi, Andalas, Suci, and Harry hundreds of times. Not to mention I got to see all three of them as babies. There's nothing I can see more from them now, I've enjoyed my time being close to them, and the only option left is for Harry to leave.
I'm presuming they will prepare him for life in the tropics as they did with Andalas? When Port Lympne in the UK returned the lone male 'Torgamba' to Sumatra I doubt that they did that, but then he was born in Sumatra, not a temperate country, so the need for this probably did not apply.
