Cincinnati zoo seek to mate rare Sumatran rhino with her brother
21 Jul 2013:
Scientists say inbreeding carries risks but is necessary in effort to save species down to 100 in the wild
Scientists say inbreeding carries risks but is necessary in effort to save species down to 100 in the wild
Suci, a female Sumatran rhino, sniffs the air at the Cincinnati zoo in Cincinnati. Photograph: Al Behrman/AP
With the survival of a species on the line, scientists at
Cincinnati zoo are hoping to mate their lone female Sumatran rhino with
her little brother.
The desperate effort follows a meeting in Singapore among conservationists that concluded there might be as few as 100 of the two-horned, hairy rhinos remaining in their native south-east Asia.
Species numbers have dropped sharply as development takes away habitat and poachers hunt them for their prized horns.
The Cincinnati zoo has been a pioneer in captive breeding of the rhino species. It recently brought the male back to his birthplace from the Los Angeles zoo and soon will try to have him mate with its lone female.
Scientist Terri Roth said inbreeding carried risks but it was necessary to start producing more rhino babies.
COPY http://www.guardian.co.uk
The desperate effort follows a meeting in Singapore among conservationists that concluded there might be as few as 100 of the two-horned, hairy rhinos remaining in their native south-east Asia.
Species numbers have dropped sharply as development takes away habitat and poachers hunt them for their prized horns.
The Cincinnati zoo has been a pioneer in captive breeding of the rhino species. It recently brought the male back to his birthplace from the Los Angeles zoo and soon will try to have him mate with its lone female.
Scientist Terri Roth said inbreeding carried risks but it was necessary to start producing more rhino babies.
COPY http://www.guardian.co.uk
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