TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Harapan, a male Sumatran Rhinoceros which was born im Cincinnati Zoo in the United States (US) is about to make a return journey to its' homeland in September, officials said Monday, August 3, 2015.
"We hope that Harapan would arrive by the end of September," said the Director of Wildlife Conservation for the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystems at the Ministry of Environments and Forestry, Bambang Dahono Adji, in Jakarta.
Bambang said the government had insisted on getting Harapan back to its homeland, just the way it had insisted on the return of Andalas, Harapan's male sibling. Harapan was transferred back to Indonesian two years ago.
According to Bambang, Harapan is at risk of prematurely dying as he is not used to high iron content in his fodder. "Harapan has a female sibling named Suci, which had died a while back after it was exposed to a diet rich in iron," said Bambang.
"If it had to pass anyways, it would be better for Harapan to die on its' homeland," he continued.
Bambang said that once the nine-year old Rhino arrives in Indonesia, it will be transferred to Way Kambas Natural Reserve in Lampung, where it will be properly diagnosed, before rangers attempt to breed it.
"Harapan has reached sexual maturity - which means that a team of specialist could begin their attempt to breed it in a bid to increase its' number in the wild," said Bambang, before adding that the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that a recommendation to import the the endangered animal is being prepared by the appropriate authorities.
"We are now waiting for the import permit to be issued. What's better, is that Cincinnati Zoo will not charge us any fees, both relating to Harapan's transport back to Indonesia, as well as the cost of breeding and rearing Harapan in captivity," said Bambang.
It is known that Sumatran Rhinoceroses are a protected species under Decree No. 7/1999 on the Conservation of Plants and Animals.
ANTARA
