Javan Rhinoceros
Javan rhino are on the verge of extinction. They are currently restricted to the island of Java in Indonesia. Unfortunately, this is a bigger issue than a rare species that is likely to vanish from Java in the near future.
Up until the middle of the 1800, this rhinoceros species was found Java and Sumatra and onto the mainland of Southeast Asia and Indochina, northwest into East India, Bhutan, and the south of China.
Now, one might argue that many species had wider ranges 150 years ago, but the Javan rhino only declared extinct in Vietnam, back in 2010. In other words, just 13 years ago this species lost its last hold on the Asian mainland. Their closest relative is the Indian greater one-horned rhino (though this is not a recent split, they are separate species).
Now they are restricted to one national park in Java which sits on the far western tip. Here, lies the Ujung Kulon national park, a wilderness covering 1206km2 (466miles2) though 443km2 (171miles2) of that is marine. In this wilderness, roams the last Javan rhinos on the planet. It is currently thought that there are 74 of them in this area. It should be noted that the population has grown since the below video was made – mentions the population as 73.
Furthermore, the Javan and Sumatran Rhino species are not closely related, indeed with the Sumatran Rhino, it is thought to be more closely related to the African rhino, rather than the Asian Rhino species.
Below is an incredibly rare bit of footage of Javan rhino in their small patch of remaining wilderness, from a charity called SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction).
Other animals found here include 35 endemic mammal species can be found in the park, including the banteng, silvery gibbon, Javan lutung, Crab-eating macaque, Javan leopard, Sumatran dhole, Java mouse-deer, Javan rusa, fishing can and smoothcoated otter. There are also 72 species of reptiles and amphibians and 240 species of birds
Note: to look at the rest of the rhino family click here
Javan rhinos: is the Indonesian government lying? misleading? or being straight with the world.
- Tim
- May 1, 2024
It appears that the counters of the Javan rhino, have continued to count animals which have not been seen for years. Given how much poaching has been going on, this...
One gang of poachers have killed 10% of Javan rhino in 5 years
- Tim
- April 27, 2024
Javan rhino are on the brink of extinction! Currently, the number of surviving rhino is thought to be around 70. This depleted population is largely to do with poaching, as...
Can simple changes help the Javan rhino recover?
- Tim
- January 24, 2024
Above is a fascinating video about a photographers journey to try to see this rhinos in the wild (spoiler alert, it was a success, as you can see from...
Good news for the Javan rhino
- Tim
- October 6, 2020
The Javan rhino is critically endangered, with a population comfortably under 100 individuals.
This is why it is very exciting that people have spotted two new calves this year in...
The Indonesian rhinos that once roamed across much of Asia
- Tim
- April 30, 2023
The wildlife of Indonesia now often looks like relatively unique to those islands. This is not the natural state of affairs. 60,000 years ago, a cousin of the orangutan lived...
New baby girl! Sumatran rhino born in captivity in a breeding centre in Sumatra
- Tim
- March 29, 2022
Today the Sumatran rhino is critically endangered. It is thought that not more than 80 exist in the wilds of Sumatra. Not particularly closely related to the Javan rhino, the...
Two baby rhino born in Java in the species last remaining habitat
- Tim
- February 17, 2022
There are only around 60 rhino left in the wild. They live in  Ujung Kulon National Park. To put that in perspective, that is an increase of 3.3%.
The rise of rhino poaching within South Africa
- Tim
- April 2, 2018
Species watch
- Tim
- May 11, 2022
I am intending to make this into a new set of articles that will appear on this website. Obviously, these species will not be the only ones that are covered...