JAKARTA, April 6 (UPI) -- The first Sumatran rhinoceros seen in about four decades in the Kalimantan region of the island of Borneo has died weeks after it was captured.
The female rhino was caught in a pit trap last month in Kalimantan, which is in Indonesian territory. The island of Borneo is shared between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
It is unclear what killed the animal. The International Rhino Foundation believes there are about 100 remaining Sumatran rhinos, meaning the animal is critically endangered.
"Our hearts are saddened by this devastating news from Kalimantan. There are many lessons to be learned from this event. It is our hope that the next rhino captured in Kalimantan will be sent to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary where it can be cared for in a permanent facility by experienced veterinarians and keepers," the International Rhino Foundation said in a statement. "Most importantly, we hope that the next rhino captured will be part of the much-needed Sumatran rhino metapopulation management strategy, while concurrent surveys are conducted to accurately determine the population in Kalimantan and appropriate long-term plans made."
