Adopt a Rhino
The Sumatran rhinoceros is one of the most endangered mammals on Earth. No more than 200 animals survive in small, isolated forest fragments in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Many of our generous donors, like Rhinocarhire.com, are helping protect the Sumatran rhino from extinction by "adopting" the rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary!
The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS), a 250-acre complex located within Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, is currently home to five rhinos that are part of an intensively managed research and breeding program aimed at increasing the Sumatran rhino population in the wild. At the sanctuary, the rhinos reside in large, open areas where they can experience a natural rainforest habitat while still receiving state-of-the-art veterinary care and nutrition.
You may choose to adopt any of the five rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary for as many days as you would like, either in your own name, or as a gift for a relative or friend who supports wildlife conservation!
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Bina, a 23-year-old female, is one of the last Sumatran rhinos to be captured and relocated within Indonesia. Bina was born in southern Sumatra’s Bengkulu province, which was formerly home to a significant population of Sumatran rhinoceros. But, by the 1980s, the construction of several villages, large oil palm plantations, and a logging concession had left the province with little habitat for rhinos. Bina and the few other rhinos still living in the area were essentially stranded, with no chance for survival in the wild, and so they were rescued in 1991.
Bina is the oldest female at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, and is the fourth oldest living captive Sumatran rhinoceros, after Torgamba, Ipuh and Emi (the latter two rhinos reside at the Cincinnati Zoo). Both Bina and Torgamba have been at the SRS since its inception in 1998.Of all the rhinos at the sanctuary, Bina is the most shy and solitary, but she does get along well with people, and with the other rhinos.
Torgamba was the first displaced rhino to become part of a joint program between the Indonesian government and international zoos and non-profits to research and breed Sumatran rhinos in captivity in order to help ensure the survival of the species in the wild. After an 11-year stay at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in England, Torgamba was transferred back home to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in 1998.
The oldest male at the sanctuary, Torgamba is also the oldest surviving captive Sumatran rhinoceros! Torgamba is doing quite well despite some complications of old age, including kidney disease and worn teeth. Older rhinos’ teeth become worn because the sticks and branches they have been eating their entire lives are full of tough fibers that require a strong bite! Torgamba gets special care every day from his dedicated keepers, Sunar and Iswanto. All of Torgamba’s food is carefully selected by hand and the leaves are pulled off to slow the wear on his old teeth. Torgamba has it better than most people -- he is handfed up to 3 or 4 times a day.
Ratu originally made her home near one of the borders of Way Kambas National Park, where she came into contact with local people who had built a village in the same area. Because of her dark coloration, villagers mistook Ratu for a large pig and tried to kill her, but luckily she ran away and escaped harm. A team of rangers, keepers and veterinarians was dispatched to find and protect Ratu, and to guide her safely to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary where she could experience a natural habitat while remaining safe from humans.
Ratu is somewhat notorious for being difficult – at least as far as rhinoceroses go! Ratu is the hardest SRS rhino to collect blood from, but is much more easygoing when she’s with her two favorite keepers, Rois and Lamijo. Although Ratu weighs 220 pounds less than the male rhinos at the sanctuary, Andalas and Torgamba, she is strong and fast, and can easily outrun both male rhinos if she doesn’t want to be around them. After mating with Andalas, Ratu became pregnant in early 2010 - the first pregnancy at the SRS! Unfortunately she later miscarried the pregnancy, which is not unusual for rhinos. Ratu is healthy and doing well, and has already begun breeding with Andalas again -- we are hoping for another pregnancy soon!
Beginning in late 2003, Rhino Protection Units wo
rking in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park began receiving reports from local villagers that a young Sumatran rhino, Rosa, had frequently been observed walking along roads and browsing for vegetation in villages around the park boundaries. Most Sumatran rhinos are very shy and solitary, but this unique rhinoceros was comfortable living and feeding in close proximity to people. A special protection unit was permanently assigned to observe and protect her, as there were serious concerns that Rosa’s habituation to humans could put her at risk. Eventually Rosa was transferred to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park where she could be better protected and could possibly reproduce.
Rosa had adapted well to her life at the sanctuary, and still exhibits all of the behaviors that make her so unique. Because she is so habituated to humans, Rosa regularly takes long walks in the forest with sanctuary staff. She is a particularly loud rhino, and often vocalizes, especially when people are close by, or when her regular feeding time is approaching. Rosa also likes to “sing” when she is happily wallowing in her mud holes.
