Darling Animal Photo of the Day

June 25, 2012 at 4:12 PM 1 comment

Not only is this about a darling baby rhino, but it’s about good news too:

(Image via UPI.com/Science_News)

A rare Sumatran rhino has given birth at an Indonesian sanctuary, encouraging researchers concerned for the species’ survival, officials said.

A baby male rhino was born to Ratu, a 12-year-old Sumatran rhino living at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia’s Way Kambas National Park, the International Rhino Foundation reported Monday.

With fewer than 200 Sumatran rhinos living in Indonesia and Malaysia, it is one of the world’s most endangered species. Their survival is threatened by loss of its tropical forest habitat and hunting pressure from poachers, who kill rhinos for their valuable horns, conservationists said.

“We are overjoyed that Ratu delivered a healthy calf and are cautiously optimistic that the calf will continue to thrive,” Susie Ellis, the foundation’s executive director, said.

Here’s a video of the little guy playing in water. So cute! Listen to his little squeaks.