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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Malaysia - Peninsular |
| Subject: |
Management - Programs |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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The Rhino Conservation Center at Sungai Dusun has been the most successful in terms of survival and health of captive Sumatran Rhino. The Center is situated at the edge of natural habitat in the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve. Its enclosures are relatively large compared to other facilities but probably need to be still larger.
Scientists who have studied this species in both the wild and captivity believe that the lack of reproduction may be due to the size and complexity of the enclosures provided for the rhino. Normally Sumatran rhinos are very solitary in the wild. Males and females only associate when the males detect that the females are in estrus, probably through scent. Courtship is very violent and in the confines of captivity can be very injurious or even fatal to rhino.
For a number of years the Department of Wild Life and National Parks (DWLNP) has had plans to expand the enclosures into the forest. One or two enclosures of 10 hectares (25 acres) were envisioned. In fact, there had been an allocation for this purpose in the 6th Plan but the funds were ultimately reallocated.
Now a donation of $ 50.000 from the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) will permit construction of an extended enclosure of 4 hectares (10 acres).
While not as large as the 10 hectare optimally planned, an enclosure of this size should significantly enhance the probability that animals will breed. Moreover, the 10 acre enclosure can be easily expanded into larger ones when hopefully funds are available in the 7th Plan.
This contribution represents two matching grants: one facilitated by Dr. Nan Schaffer from a Mr. Herschel Reid who lives in Texas; the other from IRF core funds provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation through White Oak Conservation Center.
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Expansion of Sungai Dusun
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