Jakarta, Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Tuesday morning, April 5, 2016, a joint veterinary team from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, TSI, YABI, IPB and WWF declared Najaq, a Sumatran rhino in West Kutai, East Kalimantan, dead. The team of drh. The joint team suspects that Najag's death was due to severe infection caused by severe wounds on his left leg caused by a rope snare. The rhino, estimated to be 10 years old, had been entangled since September 2015, and when captured, the noose rope had been broken but the remaining rope had gone very deep into the rhino's skin. The exact cause of Najaq's death will be known after a post mortem examination (autopsy).

Najaq was caught in a camera trap in late October 2015 with a rope snare on his left hind leg. Since then, efforts have been made to capture Najaq so that she can be untied and treated. On March 12, 2016, Najaq was captured and immediately treated with antibiotics, anti-swelling agents and vitamins by a team of veterinarians from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI), Yayasan Rhino Indonesia (YABI), IPB and WWF. The above treatment efforts are also supported and consulted with international Rhino experts (Australia Zoo, Tarongga Zoo-Australia, Cornell University-USA). The rhino's condition is reported to be improving as indicated by eating quite a lot, but it is predicted that there is still an infection in its leg (deep wound).

In the last few days, Najaq's health condition was known to decline and eventually died. This death was suspected to be due to a severe infection stemming from a snare wound on the left leg. After the post mortem examination, the dead rhino will be preserved for scientific purposes.

"The treatment given by the veterinary team had responded positively. However, the wound on the left leg was severe and caused infection," said drh. Muhammad Agil, one of the personnel of the joint team of drh. Sumatran Rhino Rescue in West Kutai Regency.

Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of KLHK Tachrir Fathoni said "The death of the Sumatran rhino Najag actually shows that the Sumatran rhino population in Kalimantan exists, whose existence has been considered non-existent. For this reason, KLHK will continue efforts to protect the Sumatran rhino in West Kutai, East Kalimantan."

"This is a valuable lesson that saving just one rhino is very difficult, and needs expert support and intensive resources," said Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia. On the same occasion, Widodo Ramono, Executive Director of YABI stated, "This incident will increase our caution in handling the conservation of Sumatran rhinos, which do have very unique behaviors."

While separately, the Regent of West Kutai, Ismail Thomas, expressed his concern, "I am very concerned about the death of Rhino Najaq, and this is a lesson for all parties in continuing to handle and save the next Rhinos that still exist in West Kutai."

In charge of news

1. Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Dr. Tachrir Fathony, Phone. 08121056749
2. Director of Communication & Advocacy WWF Indonesia, Nyoman Iswarayoga, HP.0811-1284-868
3. Head of Public Relations Bureau of MoEF, Novrizal, HP.0818-432-387

This press release can also be viewed on the website: ppid.dephut.go.id

Note to Editors:

1. The presence of rhinos in West Kutai Regency was first identified through footprints in 2013 by the WWF Indonesia Survey Team. It was only in mid-2013 that a camera trap (camera trap) successfully captured a video of a rhino wallowing, confirming the previous footprint findings.
2. Previously, the captured Sumatran rhino was estimated to be 4 - 5 years old based on its body size. However, from further examination of the condition of the teeth, the drh. team stated that Najaq's rhino was around 10 years old.
3. The Sumatran rhino is one of two rhino species in Indonesia. The Sumatran Rhino population status is currently 'critically endangered' with an estimated population of less than 100 individuals, mainly distributed on the island of Sumatra.
4. The Sumatran Rhino Rescue Team in West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan was formed based on the Decree of the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Number. SK. 300/KSDAE-KKH/2015 consisting of elements of KLHK, Provincial and District Governments, academic institutions and conservation organizations working in rhino conservation in Indonesia.