Indonesia to capture last wild Bornean rhino for IVF program

Indonesia is preparing to capture the last known wild Bornean rhino, a female named Pari, in a bid to save the critically endangered subspecies through in-vitro fertilization. Only two Bornean rhinos are known to exist globally, both female: Pari, who lives wild in the Kutai Kartanegara regency, and Pahu, residing in the Kelian rhino sanctuary. Bornean rhinos are a subspecies of Sumatran rhinos, and officials hope they can interbreed to preserve some of the Bornean genetic lineage. Previous attempts to extract eggs from the older Pahu, who is around 40 and has health issues, have been unsuccessful. Conservationists have spent months preparing for Pari's capture, installing traps and conducting simulations with cattle. Rhino translocations are inherently risky, with past incidents in Indonesia resulting in animal deaths due to pre-existing conditions or injuries. A dedicated team is working to ensure Pari's capture and relocation are as smooth as possible, minimizing stress and health risks. Once secured, Pari will be airlifted for monitoring before egg extraction. The plan involves fertilizing Bornean rhino eggs with sperm from Sumatran rhinos, as Sumatran rhinos are larger and natural mating might not be successful. If fertilization is successful, a surrogate mother would likely be used. The conservation body is also exploring cloning possibilities by collecting skin and gum samples. Fewer than 50 Javan and Sumatran rhinos remain in the wild, all in Indonesia. Scientists' success with IVF in southern white rhinos in Germany offers a glimmer of hope for this ambitious conservation effort.

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We carried out several simulations using cattle that are roughly the same size as Pari.