Sumatran Rhino In Way Kambas To Deliver Soon

East Lampung (ANTARA) - Keepers of a Sumatran rhinoceros breeding center in the Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) are currently awaiting the birth of a baby rhinoceros from its a 10-month pregnant mother.
        
Ratu , the 13-year-old pregnant mother , is one of four one-horn Sumatran rhinoceroses (one male and three females) being kept in a 100-hectare conservation area surrounded  by an electric fence.
       
The center's coordinator, Dedi Chandra, said on Tuesday the four rhinoceroses were the only remaining animals of the kind in Lampung province. Apart from Ratu, the three other animals were Rosa (12), Andalas (11) and Bina (27).
       
The rhinos were confined to the fenced off area to prevent them from conflict with other animals which could endanger them and to promote their reproduction.
         
"We are now giving special attention to Ratu who is 10-month pregnant and due to give birth next July," Dedi said.
       
Ratu was expected to have a smooth delivery as she had already passed the critical phase of rhino pregnancy which was the first three months.
       
Successful reproduction would happen if the conditions of the rhino habitat were right and the flirting  period before mating was not too long, he said. The flirting  period could become too long if the rhinos could move freely in an unconfined habitat and therefore in Way Kambas they put in enclosures, Dedi said.
       
If Ratu successfully gave birth to baby rhino, the breeding method in Way Kambas would also be applied in another rhino conservation area in Ujungkulon.