Najaq, the rare Sumatran rhino spotted in Indonesia, has succumbed to infection.
A few days ago, the female rhino was caught in a pitfall trap in Kalimantan province of Indonesian Borneo. The rediscovery of the rhino sent wildlife advocates into a frenzy, as Najaq is the first rhino spotted in over 40 years. Sumatran rhinos have become endangered in Indonesia, where only about 100 of them are remaining in the wild.
Wildlife experts were hopeful that conservation efforts are paying off. "This is an exciting discovery and a major conservation success," said Dr. Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia. "We now have proof that a species once thought extinct in Kalimantan still roams the forests, and we will now strengthen our efforts to protect this extraordinary species."
However, the excitement turned to devastation when the rhino, believed to be 4 years old, succumbed to her leg infection.
"Our hearts are saddened by this devastating news from Kalimantan," wrote the International Rhino Foundation on its Facebook page.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia conservation director Arnold Sitompul said Najaq's health significantly deteriorated a few days after the capture. It was suggested that the leg infection could have been caused by a snare from a poaching attempt before the rhino was captured by the experts. Postmortem is being carried out to identify the cause of death.
"The sad death of this rhino reminds us of the tremendous challenges associated with protecting the Sumatran rhino population in the Indonesian part of Borneo," said Sitompul.
It is believed that only about 15 Sumatran rhinos live in three populations of Kutai Barat, prompting the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to warn that these rhinos are at risk of extinction.
International Rhino Foundation is still hopeful that rhino conservation efforts will pursue and achieve success despite Najaq's death. The group said efforts toward long-term management and care for rhino must be in place.
"We hope that the next rhino captured will be part of the much-needed Sumatran rhino metapopulation management strategy, while concurrent surveys are conducted to accurately determine the population in Kalimantan and appropriate long-term plans made," the group wrote.
Sumatran rhinos are endangered because of habitat loss and rampant poaching. They are reclusive and only interact during courtship and mating. Their form of territorial communication includes marking the soil with their feet, leaving excrements, or twisting saplings into patterns.
