Rare Borneo Rhino Caught on Film for the First Time
One of the world's rarest species, the Borneo rhino, has been caught on video for the for the first time in a project that could help save it from extinction, it was announced today.
One of the world's rarest species, the Borneo rhino, has been caught on video for the for the first time in a project that could help save it from extinction, it was announced today.
Conservationists fear there could be as few as 25 rhinos of this shy species left in the jungles of Borneo. They are concerned that the remaining animals are so isolated that they do not meet each other enough to breed.
The elusive nature of the species was immortalised by Redmond O'Hanlon in his bestselling book Into the Heart of the Borneo, based on his account of trying to track down one on the island.
They are so secretive that the first ever still photograph of a Borneo rhino was only taken last year. Now, thanks to a new video camera trap developed by the WWF, moving pictures of a Borneo rhino have been recorded.
The film shows a rhino emerging from the undergrowth to noisily sniff the camera equipment.
Raymond Alfred, project manager for the WWF Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy, said filming the species will help to conserve it by giving experts a greater understanding of their behaviour and physical health.
"The footage will be used to determine the condition of the rhinos in the wild," he said. "But we have to realise that these rhinos could face extinction in the next 10 years if their habitat continues to be disturbed and enforcement is not in place."
One of the biggest threats to the species is poaching. Its horn is said to be worth as much as gold on the black market. It is also threatened by the destruction of its forest habitat for agriculture and development.
The Borneo rhino is a subspecies of the Sumatran rhino, which is also extremely rare. The WWF estimates there are fewer that 300 Sumatran rhinos worldwide.
Watch the video
Conservationists fear there could be as few as 25 rhinos of this shy species left in the jungles of Borneo. They are concerned that the remaining animals are so isolated that they do not meet each other enough to breed.
The elusive nature of the species was immortalised by Redmond O'Hanlon in his bestselling book Into the Heart of the Borneo, based on his account of trying to track down one on the island.
They are so secretive that the first ever still photograph of a Borneo rhino was only taken last year. Now, thanks to a new video camera trap developed by the WWF, moving pictures of a Borneo rhino have been recorded.
The film shows a rhino emerging from the undergrowth to noisily sniff the camera equipment.
Raymond Alfred, project manager for the WWF Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy, said filming the species will help to conserve it by giving experts a greater understanding of their behaviour and physical health.
"The footage will be used to determine the condition of the rhinos in the wild," he said. "But we have to realise that these rhinos could face extinction in the next 10 years if their habitat continues to be disturbed and enforcement is not in place."
One of the biggest threats to the species is poaching. Its horn is said to be worth as much as gold on the black market. It is also threatened by the destruction of its forest habitat for agriculture and development.
The Borneo rhino is a subspecies of the Sumatran rhino, which is also extremely rare. The WWF estimates there are fewer that 300 Sumatran rhinos worldwide.
Watch the video
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