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Small, hairy and cheekily charismatic.

Those words sprung to mind when I first met a Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) after traversing the maze of wooden slatted paths at the conservation centre in the dense, humid forests of Malaysian Borneo.

It was 1998 and I was an eager student volunteer at the centre. At that time, were thought to exist globally.

I saw this female rhino as of conservation hope. But today, according to the International Rhino Foundation’s 2026 report, Sumatran rhinos remain. All are found in Indonesia. The (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is just as rare.

While these figures rely on estimates, the trajectory is alarming.

So what is driving this decline? And how can we protect the few Sumatran and Javan rhinos that are left?

Majestic mammals

In modern culture, rhinos , power and security. We use them as sports mascots and feature them in everything from to brands.

Their ubiquity in popular culture may lead us to underestimate the urgency of their plight. Species used as marketing emblems are often considered than they truly are.

There are species of rhinos. I have had the privilege of getting to know all but one while working as a wildlife veterinarian in zoos, sanctuaries and the wild.

Africa is home to white and black rhinos, whose populations have throughout history. The water-loving greater lives in India and Nepal and has seen a from near extinction in the early 1900s. These three species can be found in zoos and tend to get the most public attention.

Compared to their African and Indian relatives, Sumatran and Javan rhinos typically fly under the radar. However, their status signals these animals are in urgent need of assistance.

The rarest rhinos

According to the latest report, the future of the elusive and the small, hairy is now especially precarious. Distribution is a major reason why.

There are roughly 50 surviving Javan rhinos. All live in a single protected area, on the island of Java. Due to nearby converging tectonic plates, it is vulnerable to earthquakes and . One could well exterminate the Javan rhino population.

In contrast, the several dozen remaining Sumatran rhinos into many subpopulations, across two islands. This means the chance of a wild individual rhino encountering another of their kind is remote or even impossible. With no prospect of finding a compatible mate, isolated survivors are destined to be the end of their .

Searching for sanctuary

To protect this fragmented population, the International Rhino Foundation established the in 1996. It is located in on the island of Sumatra.

The sanctuary is currently home to ten , semi-captive Sumatran rhinos. The resident animals live in large, natural rainforest habitats. They are provided with nutrition, security and regular veterinary care.

Increasing rhino numbers through natural or requires patience. Females give birth to a single calf after about of pregnancy. It may be several years before they have another. is a recognised problem in .

The sanctuary has had some hard-won successes. Five Sumatran rhino calves were born there between 2012 and 2023, in part due to close reproductive . Excitingly, authorities have just announced .

has also confirmed the births of up to five Javan rhino calves in Ujung Kulon in recent years. These precious births go some way towards recovery of these two species.

The perils of poaching

Poaching is a persistent threat to all rhino species. Worryingly, for rhino horn is increasing, especially in China and Vietnam. Besides its long-standing use in traditional medicine, now plays a role in demonstrating wealth and status, particularly in business circles. Poachers killed as many as between 2019 and 2023 alone.

Anti-poaching strategies include , which focus on promoting social and cultural unacceptability of horn use and purchase. Governments may also rely on intelligence-led and disruption to large crime syndicates to stop poachers. While poaching convictions and court sentences are increasing, including , this is not enough to keep the world’s rhinos safe.

Proactive measures, such as protecting and restoring habitat suitable for each species, are vital to the recovery of rhino populations. This is particularly true as humans on wild places.

Where to from here

– capturing and then releasing animals in a new place – is one possible way of protecting the world’s rhinos. examined whether this strategy could be used to re-establish populations of Sumatran and Javan rhinos across their former range throughout Southeast Asia. Conservation authorities can learn from past translocations of African rhinos, which show finding , anti-poaching protection and careful planning are crucial to the success of these efforts.

More broadly, effective rhino conservation relies on having an army of supporters. Local communities should tangibly benefit from living alongside rhinos, for example through job creation and by sharing in the proceeds of ecotourism. Even from afar, people can help by supporting conservation organisations and avoiding the purchase of products that contribute to tropical deforestation.

Sustainable funding and political commitment to protecting the few Indonesian rhinos that remain. It’s my wish that younger generations, including my future students, have the privilege of meeting a small, hairy rhinoceros for themselves.

This article was originally published in The Conversation as ‘ ’ By at the ������ School of Veterinary Science.