Birth of rare Sumatran rhino hailed as major boost

Female rhino Ratu gave birth to her calf on May 12 at a rhino sanctuary in Lampung, Indonesia. - International Rhino Foundation/AFP

Jakarta (AFP) - The rare birth of a Sumatran rhino in Indonesia has been hailed a victory for the critically endangered species, which has been almost wiped out in the wild by poaching and habitat destruction.

Conservationists wept in joy as the healthy female calf was born on western Sumatra island on Thursday, just the fifth rhino of its kind born in a breeding facility.