Take a picture of Sumatra rhino pregnant

Conservationists have announced the "snapping" of a rare image of a pregnant Sumatra rhino in a forest in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, opening the hope of preserving the endemic rhino of Borneo island, currently on the verge of extinction.

According to conservationists, there are still less than 30 Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) living wild on Borneo. This is the first time they have taken this rare photo thanks to automatic camera trapping.

'This creates great motivation for environmentalists after the initial failure of the Sumatra rhino breeding program in captivity', conservationist Raymond Alfred, working at the International Fund for Protection Nature in Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) said.

Sumatra rhino is pregnant at the forest reserve in the state of Sabah, Malaysia - Photo: WWF-Malaysia

'The size of this 20-year-old rhino is quite unusual. Based on the shape and size of its body and abdomen, we predict it is pregnant. 50 other automatic camera traps have been set up in the area to collect more evidence about it , 'Alfred said.

'The most important thing now is to protect the habitat of the threatened rhino from logging and the expansion of palm oil plantations', Alfred added.

Scientists warn that without serious conservation measures, Sumatra rhino could be extinct in the next 10 years.

Source: ABC News, Telegraph