Minister Of Transportation: Reproduction Technology Help Prevent Badak Sumatra Extinction

Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni said that reproductive technology or assisted reproduction technology (ART) could prevent the Sumatran rhino from becoming extinct.

"The Sumatran rhino ecosystem is indeed disrupted, therefore our responsibility, especially in conservation, is to maintain the forest better so as not to become extinct," said King Juli Antoni in East Lampung, Saturday.

He said, in collaboration with the Badak Indonesia Foundation, and researchers, the government is trying to continue to increase the population of Sumatran rhinos by utilizing technological developments.

"This household involves researchers and veterinarians to study the genetics, DNA of rhinos, behavior and fertile period. So that breeding is assisted by technology," he said.

He explained that the assistanceive reproductive technology could accelerate the development of the Sumatran rhino and prevent it from becoming extinct.

"It is hoped that with this the development of the Sumatran rhino can be accelerated in the future," he said.

Additional responses were said by the Executive Director of the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, Jansen Manansang.

"We have bred it using ART and also biobanks, to protect and ensure the population of the Sumatran rhino," said Jansen Manansang.

He explained that the reproduction technology process helps, namely by taking eggs from one of the female rhinos, and freezing male rhino sperm.

"In breeding, we are looking for a new male rhino, so that there is a new population. So that offspring can be healthy because the population is getting less, of course, it requires genetic variation and cannot marry children because it will be difficult to survive the disease," he added.