Rare Sumatran rhino goes home

A rare Sumatran rhinoceros, the first to be born in captivity for over 100 years is returning home to Indonesia to take part in an international breeding programme.It is hoped the male rhino, named Andalas, will be able to expand the wild population of the endangered species when he completes his gruelling journey from his home in the US to the Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary.Wildlife researcher Marcellius Adi said: "Andalas is the first-ever Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity in 112 years and was born in the Cincinnati Zoo on September 11, 2001, two days after the World Trade Centre was bombed."The male rhinoceros is more than five-years-old now and being relocated here as part of a programme to expand the population in the wild."Fellow researcher Robin Radcliffe said: "Whenever you have a long flight you worry about the animal's health and his well-being."He travelled very well and he was nervous at times. We did sedate him with some medication when we needed to but overall he travelled pretty well."Only 300 Sumatran rhinos are known to exist in the wild, while nine other rhinos live in other zoos around the world.It is one of the smallest and the hairiest of the rhino species and is closely related to the woolly rhino which became extinct during the last Ice Age.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | February 21, 2007

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