The International Rhino Foundation estimates that fewer than 50 Sumatran rhinos remain. Two of them are pregnant. On October 3, the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia and Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI) announced that Ratu and Delilah, both living at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, are expecting calves in May 2027. For a species this close to the edge, two heartbeats is not a small thing. It is close to a miracle with a due date.
Meet the mothers
Ratu is expecting her fourth calf, by Andalas. She is the matriarch of the sanctuary’s breeding program, and every calf she has raised has widened the gene pool of a species that has very little left to spare. Delilah, who happens to be one of Ratu’s calves, is expecting her second little one, by Harapan. A rhino born at the sanctuary, now raising the next generation there. It is exciting to see a successful breeding program in action. Both calves are due in May 2027. Sumatran rhino pregnancies run roughly sixteen months, so the teams at the sanctuary have a long, careful watch ahead of them.
Thirty years in the making
The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary was designed and built in 1996 by the Indonesian government, Taman Safari Indonesia and the International Rhino Foundation. IRF has supported it financially and technically every year since, working alongside the veterinary teams, keepers and scientists who manage breeding and keep these animals healthy. The International Rhino Foundation is one of the three conservation partners the Rhinory Foundation funds. Which means that if you have ever bought a bottle here, booked a tasting, or sat down at one of our tables, a portion of the proceeds from your purchase helped make this possible.
Sip Wine. Save Rhinos.
Because of our Members, loyal customers, and supporters the Rhinory Foundation moves what the winery raises out to organizations like IRF to help fund in part the work they were already doing.
News and photos courtesy of the International Rhino Foundation and the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry.
