Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world with over 255 million people in 17,000 islands, 6000 of which are inhabited.  Located near the Pacific, Eurasian and Australian tetonic plates, Indonesia is home to some of the most significant volcanic eruptions in human history: Krakatoa, erupted in 1883 and Tambora, erupted in 1815.

Of the five species of rhinos in the world, the two most endangered are the Sumatran rhino with approximately 100 left and the Javan rhino with approximately 40 left.  The Javan Rhinos are concentrated in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia where they are relatively protected from poaching due to the presence of Rhino Protection Units (RPUs).  They are, however, critically endangered and under threat of extinction.  They are rarely seen or photographed unless camera traps are used.

Sumatran rhinos are also critically endangered with only 100 left in the world.  They are scattered in three national parks in Indonesia; Gunung Leuser, Way Kambas, and Bukit Barisan Selatan and one area in Borneo.  The Sumatran rhino became extinct in Vietnam in 2010 and became extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015.  They are critically endangered and under threat of extinction.  The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) is located in Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra.  Andalas, a male born at the Cincinatti Zoo in 2001 and moved to Indonesia in 2007, is there along with his son Andatu, born at the SRS on June 23, 2012.  Three females are there as well: Ratu, mother of Andatu; Rosa and Bina.  Dr. Terri Roth of the Cincinatti Zoo has provided key support to the dedicated veterinarians and keppers at the SRS.  The Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (YABI), headed by Widodo Ramono, and the International Rhino Foundation, headed by Dr. Susie Ellis, and staffed by Sectionov Inov in Jakarta have collaborated for many years resulting in the cessation of rhino poaching in Indonesia and establishment of the successful SRS.

We were fortunate to visit Indonesia in 2012 and I was fortunate to return in 2013.  When we visited the SRS in 2012, we were among the first non-Indonesians to see Andatu who was 1 month of age at the time.  We also sailed on a 60-foot ketch "Cecilia Ann" to Anak Krakatau where I climbed halfway up to see sulfur deposits among the volcanic rock.