Poaching activities at two national parks in Indonesia have reduced significantly since the operation of Rhino Protection Units (RPU) in the parks. Rhinos rank among the most endangered species on Earth.

The RPU give special protection to Rhinoceros living in the national parks. Despite this, wild rhinos are still prone to poaching for their horns. Some cultures believe that the powdered rhino horn will cure everything from fever to food poisoning and will enhance sexual stamina. Also, its forest habitat is dwindling fast.

Poachers are still operating in Lampung forests to try to get rhinoceros and other endangered animals.

The results of a survey show that thanks to the presence of RPU officers in Lampung, poaching threats have decreased significantly. Environmentalists in West Lampung confirmed that in the past few years they hardly found dead bodies of wild rhinoceros in the area. This was contrary to the previous years when they often found remains of rhinoceros and other protected animals such as Sumatra elephants which had been killed by poachers.

There are five species of rhinos in the world, two African and three Asian. The African species are the white and black rhinos. Both species have two horns. Asian rhinos include the Indian and the Javan, each with one horn, and the Sumatran rhino, which has two horns. The world population of the Sumatran rhino is estimated to be below 300 individuals in the wild, and so far captive breeding attempts have been unsuccessful.

The Sumatran Rhino is currently found in peninsular Malaysia and on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (Indonesia). Populations of this hairy rhino are small and widely scattered.