Rare Rhino Baby Is Only The Second Of Her Kind Born In 128 Years

An amazing event took place in Indonesia last week. The International Rhino Foundation made an announcement that one of their Sumatran rhinos, a female named Ratu, just gave birth to a female rhino calf. Think that doesn’t necessarily qualify as “amazing”?

Ratu is now a two-time mom. Four years ago, she made history birthing her son, Andatu. When asked if Andatu will get to spend time with the new calf, IRF Executive Director Dr. Susie Ellis told LittleThings, "Sumatran rhinos are solitary in nature, and so the conditions here are similar. "Andatu will likely not have the chance to spend time with his sister. In the wild, his mom would have already kicked him out of her territory." CeCe Sieffert of the IRF told LittleThings, "Ratu is a very good mother. Within moments after the birth, she was at the baby's side, making sure it was all right." Ellis added, "Before she had her first calf, she was the feistiest and most difficult rhino at the facility. "As soon as she had Andatu, she calmed down — even so much that the keepers were able to safely enter her pen, which they had not been able to do previously. "With this new baby, she again has become very calm — and of course, she is a very attentive mother."