Sendawar, East Kalimantan, March 28, 2013. A team from WWF-Indonesia has found fresh footprints resembling those of a rhino in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) area of East Kalimantan, Indonesia.  
 
To confirm the presence of Sumatran rhino, another team comprised of members from WWF-Indonesia, the West Kutai Forestry Agency, Mulawarman University, and local observers, launched a follow-up survey that found evidence of rhino footprints, active mud wallows, marks on tree trunks, and signs that the rare animals had been feeding in the area. 
 
The recent findings were first coupled with known historical records of rhinos in East Kalimantan, and then scientifically confirmed by rhino experts from WWF-Indonesia and the Mulawarman University's School of Forestry as belonging to Sumatran Rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
 
The survey team also identified more than 20 plant species rhinos feed on in abundance, including Dillenia supruticosa, Glochidion glomemerulatum and Nblia Japanica. The abundant meals and the natural condition further support the finding, indicating for the first time in over two decades the presence of rhino in the Indonesian part of the Heart of Borneo. 
 
Experts taking part in the survey stated that a visual sighting has yet to be made. It is also not possible to confirm at this whether the signs were made by a group of rhinos or just one remaining individual.
 
Sumatran rhinos in Kalimantan were presumed extinct since the early 1990s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the rare animal as Critically Endangered, with a population under 275 individuals now living in the wild. .
 
“This is a very important finding to the world, and especially to Indonesia's conservation work, as this serves as a new record on the presence of Sumatran rhinos in East Kalimantan and especially in West Kutai,” said Bambang Noviyanto, the director for biodiversity conservation at the Forestry Ministry. 
 
“Information surrounding the presence becomes important to draft strategies to protect the population, if it is found to be viable and breeding, and to educate [people living around] the habitat where [traces] of rhinos have been found,” continued Bambang. 
 
Commenting on the findings, WWF-Indonesia conservation director Nazir Foead said, “WWF-Indonesia together with all stakeholders will conduct a follow-up and more comprehensive survey to map rhinos' habitat preference and their population in West Kutai.” 
 
“Based on the result of this survey, joint strategies and comprehensive and holistic action plans need to be immediately formulated.” 
 
Nazir further stated that the conservation plan and efforts for Sumatran Rhinos needed to be long-term, and therefore sustainable funding was needed, partly to ensure that the work also benefit people living around the rhinos' habitat. He added the finding was especially important after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared 2012 the International Year of the Rhino.

The head of the West Kutai district, Ismael Thomas SH. M.Si, said, “Rhinos, dolphins, clouded leopards and local buffalo are among God's creations that are getting rare, but apparently they're still alive in West Kutai”. Ismael added, “We must protect them, and the communities must live in harmony with nature.” 
 
According to Ismael, the West Kutai administration is committed to protecting rhinos, and will immediately issue a by law on Endangered Animal and Plant Protection. 
 
In partnership with WWF-Indonesia, the local government will form a team to study and investigate the presence of the animals, to decide on precise conservation policies and programs, as well as sources of funding to support efforts to protect rhinos..

 
For further information, please contacts:
 
Arif Data Kusuma, Project Leader, WWF-Indonesia Program Kutai Barat
Email: akusuma@wwf.or.id, mobile: +62 8115414375
 
Yuyun Kurniawan, Forest Management Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia Program Kutai Barat,
Email: ykurniawan@wwf.or.id, mobile: +62 81349244686
 

Note to Editors: 

Photos with high resolution can be downloaded at
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gxtwgq40q106sg3/Survey%20Badak%20Sumatera%20di%20Kalimantan%20%40WWF-Indonesia.rar with © WWF-Indonesia as the copyright.
 
Video can be downloaded at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u08spbcge88mtfc/WWF%20Indonesia%20Found-Sumatran%20Rhino%20in%20Kalimantan.mp4
 

About WWF-Indonesia:

One of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. In Indonesia, WWF presents in 27 site locations in 17 provinces. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. More info, please visit www.wwf.or.id 
 

About Heart of Borneo:

A sustainable and conservation initiative designed to preserve and promote sustainable utilization of ones of the best forests left in Borneo, for the sake of present and future generations. The working area covers Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Indonesia, it covers West, Central and East Kalimantan. Further information at www.wwf.or.id/hob