Ecobiz.asia – Two female Sumatran rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park are pregnant, raising hopes of two new births for the critically endangered species.
The pregnancies of Ratu and Delilah were announced during the 2026 World Rhino Day commemoration at Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor on Saturday (Oct. 3, 2026).
As of Oct. 3, Ratu was 238 days, or about 7.9 months, into her pregnancy with her fourth calf, sired by male rhino Andalas. Delilah was 251 days, or about 8.3 months, into her pregnancy with her second calf, sired by male Harapan.
The health and pregnancy development of both females are being closely monitored by the SRS medical team, keepers and management through to delivery.
Ahmad Munawir, Director of Species and Genetic Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry, said the pregnancies marked an important development in efforts to conserve the Sumatran rhino.
“The pregnancies of these two Sumatran rhinos are not only good news for Indonesia, but also for the world,” he said. He added that the pregnancies were part of a long-term effort to maintain the species’ population through planned breeding, reproductive health management and intensive individual monitoring.
The SRS breeding program at Way Kambas has so far produced five Sumatran rhinos: Andatu (2012), Delilah (2016), Sedah Mirah (2022), Anggi (2023) and Indra (2023).
The program is managed jointly by the Ministry of Forestry through the Way Kambas National Park Office and the Indonesian Rhino Foundation (YABI). SRS is a semi-in-situ breeding facility where rhinos are kept in a natural habitat with minimal human interaction while receiving medical care and intensive reproductive monitoring.
YABI Chairman Jansen Manansang said monitoring of Ratu and Delilah would continue through their pregnancies and until delivery, including their overall health and pregnancy development.
He also thanked the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), Taman Safari Indonesia and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) Sumatra program for supporting conservation efforts at SRS Way Kambas.
The Sumatran rhino is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The release estimates that fewer than 80 remain in the wild, with the species now found only in Indonesia, including the Gunung Leuser Ecosystem, Way Kambas National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and East Kalimantan.
With a gestation period of around 15–16 months and a weaning period of up to two years, each birth is considered significant for increasing the population and maintaining genetic diversity.
Taman Safari Indonesia, YABI and the Ministry of Forestry are holding the 2026 World Rhino Day commemoration on Oct. 3–4 under the theme “Keep the Five Alive, Stand Together for Rhinos.”
Indonesia is home to two of the world’s five surviving rhino species—the Sumatran rhino and the Javan rhino—both of which are classified as Critically Endangered. ***
