Javan Rhino

Natrajan Siva| A&W Mag

One of the most threatened species of the 5 rhino species in the world the Javan Rhino species with an estimated population of not more than 70 around the world the Javan Rhino is only found in the Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia. Though they once roamed around India and South East Asia as well, now they are no more there. The last Vietnamese Javan Rhino was poached in the year 2010.

What went wrong?
Their natural habitat is tropical forests and this has been the major reason for the decline of these species in recent years, because of important infrastructural as well as economic developments their habitat is at loss and their life is been put to risk, other reasons being Javan Rhinos were killed by trophy hunters and also because of their horns, after they were brought down hunters used to take their horns and sell it, it was one of the highly prized commodities in the Asian medicine market.

Natural disasters -though the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is constantly on the alert to try their best to conserve these species they are at risk from the natural disasters as well because the location of the Ujung Kulon National Park in Java is highly vulnerable to tsunamis as well as the high rise in seawater levels nearby pose a threat to the species and the Anak Krakatau volcano if it erupts will wipe out not only the Javan rhinos but half of the species living there. In recent years Javan rhinos have also been at risk from the diseases from the cattle in that area.

What WWF is doing
WWF in partnership with other national park and local authorities has established an alternative place for these Rhinos to live in and also the current place i.e. Ujung Kulon National Park has reached its maximum capacity to facilitate the rhinos hence to ensure the survival of the last species it is important that they should be given utmost importance.
WWF will also support scientific research to guide these conservation and management strategies.

Why it is necessary?
The main reason as to why the survival of this species is important is that they are the last of this sub-species of Rhino and they must be protected before its too late and they go extinct.