Image of a worker with a baby rhino and image of the baby rhino on its own

Doctors at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary care for Indra (left) and Anggi (right).

Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry via AP Images (veterinarian with Indra); Courtesy of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Anggi); Shutterstock.com (tear)

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The Race to Save Rhinos

Two Sumatran rhinos were recently born in Indonesia. Can they help save their species?

April 1, 2024
By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read: Identify why the births of Indra and Anggi are so important. 

A Sumatran rhinoceros named Indra follows his mother to a mud puddle. The two splash around before lying down side by side for a nap.  

Indra may seem like an ordinary rhino. But people celebrated when he was born in Indonesia last November. The same is true of Anggi. This female Sumatran rhino was born at the same sanctuary just two months earlier. 

Why were their births such big news? Sumatran rhinos are among the most endangered animals on Earth. There may be fewer than 50 of them left in the wild. 

“Sumatran rhinos are really rare,” says Stacy Strother. She works at the International Rhino Foundation. “So for this species, every single birth is a really big deal.”

Indra is a baby Sumatran rhinoceros. He follows his mother to a mud puddle. The two splash around. Then they lie down side by side for a nap.  

Indra may seem like an ordinary rhino. But people celebrated when he was born in Indonesia last November. The same is true of Anggi. She is a female Sumatran rhino. She was born at the same sanctuary just two months earlier. 

Why were their births such big news? Sumatran rhinos are among the most endangered animals on Earth. There may be fewer than 50 of them left in the wild. 

“Sumatran rhinos are really rare,” says Stacy Strother. She works at the International Rhino Foundation. “So for this species, every single birth is a really big deal.”

Rhinos at Risk

There are five rhino species. They live in Asia and Africa. In the early 1900s, as many as 500,000 rhinos roamed the wild. Today, that number is down to about 27,000. Sumatran rhinos are nearly extinct, or wiped out.

One big reason rhinos are in trouble is poaching. Hunters shoot the animals and saw off their horns, leaving the bodies behind. The horns can sell for $300,000 each.

Many people believe that the horns can cure illnesses. They are often turned into powder and used in medicines. But the horns don’t really have healing powers. 

Habitat loss is another threat. The human population in Indonesia is growing. More land is being cleared to make room for roads and homes. Rhinos have fewer places to live. 

There are five rhino species. They live in Asia and Africa. As many as 500,000 rhinos roamed the wild in the early 1900s. Today, that number is down to about 27,000. Sumatran rhinos are nearly extinct, or wiped out.

One big reason rhinos are in trouble is poaching. Hunters shoot the animals and saw off their horns. Then they leave the bodies behind. The horns can sell for $300,000 each.

Many people believe that the horns can cure illnesses. They are often turned into powder and used in medicines. But the horns don’t really have healing powers. 

Habitat loss is another threat. The human population in Indonesia is growing. More land is being cleared to make room for roads and homes. Rhinos have fewer places to live. 

Pause and Think

Take a moment to think about other threats that rhinos in the wild might face. 

Take a moment to think about other threats that rhinos in the wild might face. 

Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry via AP Images

Indra and his mom take a mud bath. Mud cools rhinos’ skin and protects it from insects.

Making Life Better

So that’s why the arrival of Indra and Anggi was so important. They were born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park. Veterinarians there want to help grow the rhino population. Their goal is to one day move the animals to the wild. 

Strother says that’s important. Areas in the wild that lose rhinos suffer in ways you might not expect. 

For example, Strother points out that rhinos eat plants and then spread seeds when they poop. Without rhinos, not as many new plants would grow in different areas.  

“They’re such an important part of the ecosystem,” Strother explains.

And it’s not just plants that are helped by rhinos. Tourists come from all over the world to see the animals. The money those tourists spend in the area helps support local businesses. 

That’s why the arrival of Indra and Anggi was so important. They were born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. It’s in Way Kambas National Park. Veterinarians there want to help grow the rhino population. Their goal is to one day move the animals to the wild. 

Strother says that’s important. Areas in the wild that lose rhinos suffer in ways you might not expect. 

For example, rhinos help plants grow. They eat plants and then spread seeds when they poop. Without rhinos, not as many new plants would grow in different areas.  

“They’re such an important part of the ecosystem,” Strother explains.

It’s not just plants that are helped by rhinos. Tourists come from all over the world to see the animals. The money those tourists spend in the area helps support local businesses. 

Get to Know Sumatran Rhinos

Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

  • In the wild, they live only on two islands in Indonesia.
  • Sumatran rhinos are the smallest rhino species in the world. Still, they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure about 10 feet long. 
  • They’re also the hairiest rhinos. Newborns often have full coats of hair. And adults are covered with patches of short, dark, stiff hair.
  • Their front horns may be more than 2 feet long but are usually much shorter. The second horn often looks like a small bump.
  • In the wild, they live only on two islands in Indonesia.
  • Sumatran rhinos are the smallest rhino species in the world. Still, they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure about 10 feet long. 
  • They’re also the hairiest rhinos. Newborns often have full coats of hair. And adults are covered with patches of short, dark, stiff hair.
  • Their front horns may be more than 2 feet long but are usually much shorter. The second horn often looks like a small bump.

Saving Rhinos

Today, the sanctuary is home to 10 Sumatran rhinos. Armed guards protect the animals around the clock. And the rhinos get daily checkups.

Strother says Indra and Anggi are healthy and growing fast. She’s hopeful that the species can make a comeback. 

“Rhinos have been on this planet for millions of years,” Strother says. “It’s our responsibility to keep them here as long as possible.”

Today, the sanctuary is home to 10 Sumatran rhinos. Armed guards protect the animals around the clock. The rhinos get daily checkups.

Strother says Indra and Anggi are healthy and growing fast. She’s hopeful that the species can make a comeback. 

“Rhinos have been on this planet for millions of years,” Strother says. “It’s our responsibility to keep them here as long as possible.”

Meet More Rhinos

The Sumatran rhino is one of five types of rhinoceroses. Here are the other four.

The Sumatran rhino is one of five types of rhinoceroses. Here are the other four.

White

Wilmar Topshots/Alamy Stock Photo

Number left: fewer than 16,000

Home continent: Africa

An adult male can weigh more than 6,000 pounds. White rhinos are the heaviest land mammals except for elephants. Despite its name, this rhino is gray.

Number left: fewer than 16,000

Home continent: Africa

An adult male can weigh more than 6,000 pounds. White rhinos are the heaviest land mammals except for elephants. Despite its name, this rhino is gray.

Javan

Number left: about 70

Home continent: Asia

This very rare rhino has one horn. It is found only in one national park on the island of Java in Indonesia.

Number left: about 70

Home continent: Asia

This very rare rhino has one horn. It is found only in one national park on the island of Java in Indonesia.

Black

Martin Harvey/Getty Images

Number left: about 6,000

Home continent: Africa

Like white rhinos, black rhinos are actually gray. Dried mud on their skin often makes them look much darker.

Number left: about 6,000

Home continent: Africa

Like white rhinos, black rhinos are actually gray. Dried mud on their skin often makes them look much darker.

Greater One-Horned 

Number left: about 4,000

Home continent: Asia

The second-largest rhino, this species got its name because of its single horn. It is also known as the Indian rhino.

Number left: about 4,000

Home continent: Asia

The second-largest rhino, this species got its name because of its single horn. It is also known as the Indian rhino.

  1. Based on the article, what is poaching? What clues in the text help you figure it out? 
  2. Based on what you’ve read, why do you think the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary has armed guards? 
  3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?
  1. Based on the article, what is poaching? What clues in the text help you figure it out? 
  2. Based on what you’ve read, why do you think the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary has armed guards? 
  3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?
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