Two Sumatran Rhinos in Way Kambas are Pregnant, New Hope for Critical Animals

BOGOR, GARISBUMI.com – Two female Sumatran rhinos, Ratu and Delilah, are pregnant at the Sumatran Rhino Reserve (SRS), Way Kambas National Park, Lampung. This news brings new hope to efforts to maintain the population of one of the most endangered animals in the world.

This development was announced in a series of commemorations for World Rhino Day 2026 at Taman Safari Indonesia, Bogor, Saturday (3/10/2026).

As of October 3 2026, the Queen's pregnancy will be 238 days. She is pregnant with the prospective fourth child from the Andalas stud couple. Meanwhile, Delilah is 251 days pregnant for her second child from the Harapan male pair.

The medical team, animal nurses and SRS managers continue to monitor the health of the two mothers and the progress of their pregnancy until the birth process.

Director of Species Conservation and Genetics at the Ministry of Forestry, Ahmad Munawir, said that Ratu and Delilah's pregnancy was an important development for the conservation of the Sumatran rhino.

"The pregnancy of two baby Sumatran rhinos is not only good news for Indonesia, but also for the world," he said.

According to Munawir, the pregnancy of both mothers is part of a long-term effort to maintain the Sumatran rhino population through planned breeding, reproductive health management and intensive individual monitoring.

Five Sumatran Rhinos Have Been Born at SRS

The breeding program at SRS Way Kambas has resulted in the birth of five Sumatran rhinos, namely Andatu in 2012, Delilah in 2016, Sedah Mirah in 2022, and Anggi and Indra in 2023.

The program is managed by the Ministry of Forestry through the Way Kambas National Park Center together with the Indonesian Badak Foundation (YABI).

SRS places rhinos in their natural habitat with minimal human interaction. This management is accompanied by intensive medical care and reproductive monitoring.

Chairman of the YABI Board, Jansen Manansang, said that the readiness of the two parents was the team's main concern during the pregnancy period.

"The SRS medical team will carry out intensive monitoring so that Ratu and Delilah can go through the pregnancy period well and give birth to healthy children," he said.

Jansen also appreciated the support of various parties for the sustainability of the program, including the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), Taman Safari Indonesia, and TFCA Sumatra.

Every Birth Matters to Conservation

The Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) has Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List. According to the organizers' statement, the number is estimated to be no more than 80 individuals in the wild.

This animal now only remains in Indonesia, with a distribution in the Gunung Leuser Ecosystem Area, Way Kambas National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, and East Kalimantan (Kaltim).

Sumatran rhino breeding takes a long time. The gestation period lasts around 15-16 months, while the weaning period can reach two years.

Therefore, every pregnancy becomes an important stage in the conservation program. Successful births can add individuals while supporting efforts to maintain the population's genetic diversity in the long term.

Inviting the public to get to know rhinos

The news of Ratu and Delilah's pregnancy became one of the highlights of the commemoration of World Rhino Day which was held by Taman Safari Indonesia together with YABI and the Ministry of Forestry on 3-4 October 2026.

Carrying the theme "Keep the Five Alive, Stand Together for Rhinos", this activity invites the public to get to know the five types of rhinos that still live in the world. Indonesia is home to two of them, namely the Sumatran rhino and the Javan rhino, which both have critical status.

The series of activities included discussions on conservation challenges, natural breeding, assisted reproductive technology, and the role of society in rhino conservation.

Visitors can also take part in educational activities through the Rhino Corner, games, coloring and stories about rhinos for children and families. YABI also opened a donation and merchandise booth to support the conservation of these animals.