The Guardians of the Wild: Meet the Women Saving the World’s Rarest Rhinos
In this new series, our Executive Director, Nina Fascione, brings you behind the scenes to meet the heroes of rhino conservation.
This International Women’s Day, the International Rhino Foundation is pleased to recognize a few of the talented women who are instrumental in rhino conservation in Africa and Asia. We wish all women in conservation and beyond a happy International Women’s Day.
Dr. Kurnia Khairani, known as Nia, is a woman constantly in motion. As the Director of the nonprofit organization Aliansi Lestari Rimba Terpadu (ALeRT), she is always on the go, working hard to conserve Indonesia’s imperiled rhino species. Her days are filled with meetings, field updates, research coordination and the countless demands that come with protecting some of the world’s rarest animals. At the center of all this activity is a singular goal: ensuring the survival of Indonesia’s critically endangered rhinos.
Nia brings both scientific expertise and leadership experience to her role. She holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University), one of Indonesia’s leading institutions for environmental and agricultural sciences, and completed postgraduate studies at Cornell University. This blend of rigorous scientific training and international perspective allows her to bridge the worlds of research, conservation practice and organizational management—skills essential for guiding a small but highly impactful organization like ALeRT. Under her leadership, ALeRT plays an important role in the conservation of both the Javan rhino and the Sumatran rhino, two of the most endangered large mammals on Earth.
One of ALeRT’s most critical partnerships is with park authorities in Ujung Kulon National Park, located at the western tip of Java. This protected area is the last remaining home of the Javan rhino, a species that once roamed across much of Southeast Asia but now survives only in this single location. Working closely with park officials, ALeRT helps conduct regular population monitoring, —an essential component of any successful conservation strategy.
The team uses a network of strategically placed camera traps, combined with field patrols and data analysis, to monitor the rhinos that move through the dense rainforest. These surveys provide valuable information about the population, including estimates of total numbers, the ratio of males to females, and indicators of reproductive success. Encouragingly, the cameras have documented numerous mother-and-calf pairs over the years, offering hopeful signs that the population continues to reproduce in the wild.
The monitoring program also offers a fascinating window into the broader ecosystem of Ujung Kulon. While the cameras are intended to track rhinos, they also capture images of many other species that share the forest. ALeRT’s camera traps have recorded dozens of animals, including wild boar, banteng, civets, mouse deer and even the elusive Javan leopard. These images help scientists better understand the health and diversity of the park’s wildlife.
ALeRT’s work extends beyond Java. In Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo), the organization is deeply involved in efforts to protect the remaining Sumatran rhinos in the region. Here, ALeRT oversees the monitoring and care of two particularly well-known rhinos: Pahu and Pari.
Pahu, a female Sumatran rhino, resides at a protected sanctuary where she receives expert care and monitoring from veterinarians and conservation specialists. Pari, by contrast, remains in the wild. She is an elusive female whose movements are closely tracked by conservation teams. Authorities hope to eventually locate and safely capture Pari so she can be brought to the sanctuary to join Pahu, helping to secure the future of the species.
Managing programs across multiple islands and ecosystems would be demanding for anyone, but Nia handles it with tireless energy. Her work goes far beyond supervising field teams. Like many nonprofit leaders, she balances conservation science with the less visible but equally important tasks of fundraising, reporting, strategic planning and endless coordination meetings. Each day requires juggling priorities across research, government collaboration and international partnerships.
And beyond her professional responsibilities, Nia is also a mother to her own daughter, adding another important dimension to her already full life.
Despite the challenges, Nia’s dedication to wildlife conservation never wavers. Her leadership, passion and determination help ensure that ALeRT remains a vital partner in the global effort to protect Indonesia’s remaining rhinos.
The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is proud to partner with Nia and the ALeRT team as we work together toward a shared mission: safeguarding the future of the world’s rhinos before it is too late.