L.A. zoo's rhino to heed call of the wild

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Zoo is preparing to send its lone Sumatran rhino back to its native Indonesia to take part in a breeding program to save the species.

With only 300 Sumatran rhinos still alive in Indonesia and Malaysia, the arrival of the endangered mammal from its Los Angeles home could represent hope for the entire species, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"It's very significant that he's going back," Los Angeles Zoo official Michael Dee said. "It's like he's going full circle ... He will help repopulate the wild."

The relocation to Indonesia will likely take some adjustment for Andalas, despite it being his species' native land, as he previously called only Los Angeles and Cincinnati home.

Not to mention the long journey the 1,540-pound rhino has in front of it.

While that journey will likely include a flight into the Netherlands, another into Jakarta, a drive to the coast and then a ferry ride to Sumatra, Dee maintained that Andalas would be fine.

"He'll be able to lie down in the crate," he told the Times. "He'll have his keeper with him."