Sumatran Rhino Rescue celebrates World Rhino Day

Sumatran Rhino Rescue celebrates World Rhino Day and stresses the urgency to save the Sumatran rhino from extinction.

Today there are fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the world. These shy solitary creatures need our help before it’s too late.

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the five rhino species. They can grow to 48 - 58 inches tall and be eight to ten feet long. This species has two horns, which are considerably smaller than other rhino species.

Sumatran rhinos can only be found in the forests of Indonesia, which underscores the importance of working closely with the Government of Indonesia to rescue and relocate rhinos to managed breeding facilities to ensure their survival. 

The Sumatran rhinoceros has lived throughout Southeast Asia for millennia. But over the past century, its population has been nearly erased as a result of poaching and habitat loss. Today there are fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the world. Hanging on to existence in 10 fragmented sub-populations across two islands, this rhino is so rare that few people have ever seen one in the wild. Separated by mountainous terrain, Sumatran rhinos now struggle to find mates in the wild to breed their next generation.

Sumatran Rhino Rescue (SRR) is a groundbreaking, collaborative approach to conservation. Inspired by the Government of Indonesia’s Emergency Action Plan to save this critically endangered species, SRR brings together international and Indonesian NGOs, working hand in hand with on-the-ground partners and coordinating closely with leaders in government. Since its creation in September 2018, SRR has made important strides to help bring this species back from the brink of extinction.

Learn more about our recent accomplishments here. This critical work will only be possible with support from organizations and individuals around the world. For more information and to learn how to contribute, visit sumatranrhinorescue.org.