Our Rhino Residents
Here at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA), we’re home to three rhinos; Rudy, our Critically Endangered black rhino, and Tensing and Bandhu, our Vulnerable greater one-horned rhinos. Through specialized care, breeding programs, and public education, DZCA plays a crucial role in safeguarding these incredible animals. Yet, our efforts don’t stop at the Zoo gates.
Conservation—especially with our ability to connect these days—needs more alliances. When we refreshed our brand earlier this year as Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, this gave us an opportunity to feature all the amazing alliances we’ve formed in recent months. Read on to learn more about two of these important partnerships.
The Power of Alliances: Global Rhino Conservation
One of these alliances involves the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and our partner, Forum Konservasi Leuser (FKL) in Sumatra, Indonesia. The Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh province, near the northern tip of Sumatra Island, may be the last stronghold for wild Sumatran rhinos, which number less than 80. In a landscape three times the size of Yellowstone National Park in the United States, FKL’s Wildlife Protection Teams (WPTs) are vital in patrolling this vast area. Both IRF and DZCA support these teams, composed of highly trained members who can endure the rigorous and remote terrain; currently, FKL manages a total of 39 WPTs in the Leuser Ecosystem. In addition to patrolling, WPTs also document signs of rhinos and other wildlife, dismantle snares, and document human disturbance encountered in the habitat.
Rhino Conservation Comes Full Circle
To bring this three-way alliance full circle, Angela Yang, DZCA’s Director of International Field Conservation, sits on IRF’s Advisory Board so she is apprised of the latest state of conservation for all five remaining rhino species. These conversations ensure that DZCA’s field conservation strategy remains relevant, informed by colleagues, partner organizations, and field experts. These invaluable alliances are what will move the needle (or in this case, the rhino) forward in our joint conservation efforts. IRF has just released their latest “State of the Rhino” report available here.
We invite you to learn more about our conservation efforts and how you can support rhino protection. Through education, collaboration, and action, we can ensure a future for rhinos—both here at DZCA and across the world.
Follow Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn for updates on our rhinos and rhino conservation work!
