Indonesian rhino report

Well this is unfortunate. It seems like these two rhino species are unfortunately doomed (unless very serious action is taken right at this moment).
 
That's really sad news, but thanks anyway for sharing it here as sad as it is. Like they aren't on the extreme dire brink of being completely gone, enough as it is. Can't emphasise the burning contempt feeling right now towards those poachers to put it very mildly.

Wish somewhere like Panaitan Island off west Java could become a highly guarded offshore sanctuary for a number of the remaining Javan rhinos, in hopes that their numbers might bolster and have a transfer back and between there and Ujung Kulon National Park. Although there are tourist spots on that island particuarly for surfers believe. But wonder if would be much more managable to protect the area.; or Tuangku and Bangkaru Islands off west Sumatra that are part of Mentawai Islands perhaps, or somewhere? Any islands ecoystems might (probably) then itself be threatened by sudden presence of rhinos in the environment (hopefully damage which could be remedied afterwards); and the rhinos themselves might not find the islands the most optimal places except temperatures similar (at least to low terrain rainforests, high mountainous regions would not though); but desperate times to save a wonderful species from being gone forever.
 
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I personally question if leaving these animals in situ is really best for their potential survival. I'm well aware of the initial failures of the past Sumatran rhinoceros breeding program, and I'm not suggesting we bring them straight to public display in foreign zoos, but it's hard to feel confident in the reports after the poaching scandal and I would hate to see these species marching towards extinction and doom.

That's really sad news, but thanks anyway for sharing it here as sad as it is. Like they aren't on the extreme dire brink of being completely gone, enough as it is. Can't emphasise the burning contempt feeling right now towards those poachers to put it very mildly.

Wish somewhere like Panaitan Island off west Java could become a highly guarded offshore sanctuary for a number of the remaining Javan rhinos, in hopes that their numbers might bolster and have a transfer back and between there and Ujung Kulon National Park. Although there are tourist spots on that island particuarly for surfers believe. But wonder if would be much more managable to protect the area.; or Tuangku and Bangkaru Islands off west Sumatra that are part of Mentawai Islands perhaps, or somewhere? Any islands ecoystems might (probably) then itself be threatened by sudden presence of rhinos in the environment (hopefully damage which could be remedied afterwards); and the rhinos themselves might not find the islands the most optimal places except temperatures similar (at least to low terrain rainforests, high mountainous regions would not though); but desperate times to save a wonderful species from being gone forever.
This seems like a good proposal!
 
I personally question if leaving these animals in situ is really best for their potential survival. I'm well aware of the initial failures of the past Sumatran rhinoceros breeding program, and I'm not suggesting we bring them straight to public display in foreign zoos, but it's hard to feel confident in the reports after the poaching scandal and I would hate to see these species marching towards extinction and doom.


This seems like a good proposal!
Their native country would never admit that they can't handle the situation even if it gets worse as we have seen with the extinction of the Northern White rhino, they were offered help and they refused it now they are gone for good unfortunately
 
Their native country would never admit that they can't handle the situation even if it gets worse as we have seen with the extinction of the Northern White rhino, they were offered help and they refused it now they are gone for good unfortunately

Yeah I think your assessment of how the Indonesian government would respond to any suggestions of ex situ conservation re-efforts with help from outside organisations is very likely exactly what the situation at hand is with any attempts now to pursue alternative conservation efforts outside of Java, Sumatra and Borneo.

It's so despairingly frustrating though hey as like you pointed out, looking at what happened with the last remaining northern white rhinos in central-east and north-east Africa, now gone from existence, but watched go every painful moment of seeing each individual at a time (credit for the many people almost entirely unacknowledged, who were involved in trying to save the remaining few from extinction though, sadly it still happened; underfunded and underresourced work imagine was the case, and probably only able to start largely after years of campaigning for the need for by many of the same people who tried really hard to save them).
 
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Yeah I think your assessment of how the Indonesian government would respond to any suggestions of ex situ conservation re-efforts with help from outside organisations is very likely exactly what the situation at hand is with any attempts now to pursue alternative conservation efforts outside of Java, Sumatra and Borneo.

It's so despairingly frustrating though hey as like you pointed out, looking at what happened with the last remaining northern white rhinos in central-east and north-east Africa, now gone from existence, but watched go every painful moment of seeing each individual at a time (credit for the many people almost entirely unacknowledged, who were involved in trying to save the remaining few from extinction though, sadly it still happened; underfunded and underresourced work imagine was the case, and probably only able to start largely after years of campaigning for the need for by many of the same people who tried really hard to save them).
From what I recall a plan was offered to the then government to remove the last remaining Northern White rhinos to a safer country until the situation improved, apparently they said they could protect them and didn't need any help!
 
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I am less of a 'doomer' about both species than perhaps I ought to be. Whilst clearly both species are in huge trouble, the breeding programme at Way Kambas is relatively successful (we might hope for a new calf in 2027 or so?) and 2026 will see a similar project begin with Javan rhinos in Ujong Kulon, which we can all support by donating to YABI. If the project is successful (and I believe it has every chance of being), a breeding (semi) ex situ population of Javan rhinos will be established.

The scientific advances made RE potentially producing northern white rhinos from southern white rhino dams are also a source of positivity for me - I believe when this project was announced, it was mentioned that the Indonesian government has taken an interest in how applicable the technology would be to the rhinos of the Greater Sundas.
 
I believe when this project was announced, it was mentioned that the Indonesian government has taken an interest in how applicable the technology would be to the rhinos of the Greater Sundas.

Both IZW team and a vet team from Indonesia were in Pilsen zoo few days ago. They anesthetised a Indian rhino bull and collected semen samples. It was titled to be done so that the people from Indonesia gain more experience with AI in Asian rhinos.
 
Both IZW team and a vet team from Indonesia were in Pilsen zoo few days ago. They anesthetised a Indian rhino bull and collected semen samples. It was titled to be done so that the people from Indonesia gain more experience with AI in Asian rhinos.
This is very interesting news indeed
 
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I feel Way Kambas have now 'got the knack' as it were with maintaining and breeding their Sumatran rhinos. There have been no losses- apart from Bina from old age (or is she still alive?) and the other younger cows are all breeding now. But they desperately need an unrelated male now.

I also think Javans would be a lot easier to manage that the Sumatrans in a captive or semi-captive situation, in fact no more difficult to keep and breed than the closely related Indian rhino.
 
Both IZW team and a vet team from Indonesia were in Pilsen zoo few days ago. They anesthetised a Indian rhino bull and collected semen samples. It was titled to be done so that the people from Indonesia gain more experience with AI in Asian rhinos.
I do see good potential for the Sunda rhino species and admittedly very timely. If no decisive action is taken in situ with more intensive breeding both in situ and ex situ along the lines of the Way Kambas facility we may yet loose both the Sumatran Sumateran rhinos and their Javan counterpart (which is more genetically close to the Indian Subcontinent Great-One-Horned Rhino Rhinoceros spp.
 
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