National and international efforts are needed if the species is to escape extinction

Apr 8, 2013 20:41 GMT  ·  By
Conservationists say less than 100 Sumatran rhinos are currently left to inhabit the wild
   Conservationists say less than 100 Sumatran rhinos are currently left to inhabit the wild

Reports recently issued by conservationists say that, all things considered, it is quite likely that less than 100 wild Sumatran rhinos are currently left in their natural habitats on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Therefore, national and international conservation projects meant to save this species from becoming extinct need be implemented without delay, the conservationists in charge of keeping a close eye on the world's remaining Sumatran rhinos explain.

Mongabay informs us that, back in 2008, only 250 such animals could still be found living in the wilderness.

Despite efforts to up the overall headcount for their species, it appears that the survival chances of Sumatran rhinos have pretty much gone from bad to worse.

The same source reports that the clearing of forests and poaching activities are the ones to be held accountable for the fact that, as the years go by, the Sumatran rhino population in Sumatra and Borneo is steadily declining.

Commenting on this latest census carried out for said species, Widodo Ramono, the current executive director of Yayasan Badak Indonesia, argued that “Serious steps must be taken roll back the tide of extinction of the Sumatran rhino.”

Not very long ago, a summit organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Commission witnessed the Indonesian and the Malaysian governments' entering a partnership whose purpose is that of safeguarding the Sumatran rhinos left to live within the borders of these two regions.

“This could be our last opportunity to save this species and, by working together as a collaborative unit, internationally and regionally, with an agreed vision and goals, a glimmer of hope has been clearly demonstrated,” Widodo Ramono commented with respect to this agreement.

Apart from their using state-of-the-art technology to monitor the remaining Sumatran rhino population and keep it safe from poachers, the conservationists who want to save the species are trying to breed the animals in captivity and hope to integrate some of their offspring in the wild.