This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18562208#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Endangered Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity | Endangered Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Sumatran rhinoceros - one of the world's most endangered species - has given birth at a sanctuary in Indonesia. | A Sumatran rhinoceros - one of the world's most endangered species - has given birth at a sanctuary in Indonesia. |
Conservationists at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park said the mother, Ratu, and her male calf were both "very well". | |
It is only the fourth recorded case of a Sumatran rhino being born in captivity in a century. | It is only the fourth recorded case of a Sumatran rhino being born in captivity in a century. |
There are thought to be fewer than 200 alive in Indonesia and Malaysia. | There are thought to be fewer than 200 alive in Indonesia and Malaysia. |
Their numbers have dropped by 50% over the past 20 years, largely due to poaching and loss of habitat. | Their numbers have dropped by 50% over the past 20 years, largely due to poaching and loss of habitat. |
'Big present' | 'Big present' |
A spokesman for Indonesia's forest ministry, Masyhud, told the AFP news agency that Ratu's labour had gone "smoothly and naturally". | A spokesman for Indonesia's forest ministry, Masyhud, told the AFP news agency that Ratu's labour had gone "smoothly and naturally". |
"It's really a big present for the Sumatran rhino breeding efforts as we know that this is a very rare species which have some difficulties in their reproduction," he added. | "It's really a big present for the Sumatran rhino breeding efforts as we know that this is a very rare species which have some difficulties in their reproduction," he added. |
"This is the first birth of a Sumatran rhino at a sanctuary in Indonesia." | "This is the first birth of a Sumatran rhino at a sanctuary in Indonesia." |
It was Ratu's third pregnancy. The previous two ended in miscarriages. | It was Ratu's third pregnancy. The previous two ended in miscarriages. |
The father of the baby rhino, Andalas, was born at Cincinnati Zoo in the US in 2001 - the first Sumatran rhino to be delivered in captivity in 112 years. | The father of the baby rhino, Andalas, was born at Cincinnati Zoo in the US in 2001 - the first Sumatran rhino to be delivered in captivity in 112 years. |
He was brought to Indonesia in 2009 to mate with Ratu, who was born in the wild but wandered out of a forest and was taken in by the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. | He was brought to Indonesia in 2009 to mate with Ratu, who was born in the wild but wandered out of a forest and was taken in by the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. |
On Friday, the US-based International Rhino Foundation said that a veterinary team would harvest Ratu's placental cells, which could be used to generate stem cells. | On Friday, the US-based International Rhino Foundation said that a veterinary team would harvest Ratu's placental cells, which could be used to generate stem cells. |
Stem cells had the potential to be useful for many purposes in the near future, including curing diseases and helping promote reproduction, it said. | Stem cells had the potential to be useful for many purposes in the near future, including curing diseases and helping promote reproduction, it said. |
Previous version
1
Next version