JAVAN RHINOS

"LESSER ONE-HORNED" RHINOS

Javan rhinos are the most elusive of the five rhino species. Due to human interventions such as hunting and poaching, two Javan sub-species are extinct, but disease, habitat loss, and inbreeding pose their greatest threats today.

They have proven notoriously difficult to breed and there are no Javan rhinos in captivity. Java's oldest and largest protected area, Ujung Kulon National Park, hosts the sole Javan rhino population.

There is hope for the species as the Indonesian government ministry released rare footage of a young calf and its mother from a hidden camera in 2022. Sadly, despite this positive sighting an estimated 26 rhino are thought to have been poached between 2019 and 2023 leaving the population below 50 and possibly as low as only 34 individuals.

Facts

Scientific name

• Rhinoceros sondaicus

"Rhinoceros” from the Greek “rhino”, meaning “nose” and “ceros”, meaning “horn” and “sondaicus” referring to the Sunda islands in Indonesia, “Sunda” meaning “Java”

Sub-species

• Indonesian Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

• Indian Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis)

• Vietnamese Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus)

Conservation status

• Indonesian: Critically endangered

• Indian: Extinct (declared extinct in 1925)

• Vietnamese: Extinct (declared extinct in 2010)

Population

• Estimated to be as many as 80 individuals, but more likely between 34 and 50 individuals only found in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park in the extreme south-western tip of Java

Population increase/decrease

• The Javan rhino population was thought to be around 76, however an estimated 26 Javan rhinos are thought to have been poached between 2019 and 2023 bringing the population to an estimated 50 individuals making it one of the most endangered mammals on the planet

Current range, habitat & diet

• Current range: The Ujung Kulon National Park, a protected 497.59 km² reserve, located in Banten Province at the south western most tip of Java.

• Habitat: Dense lowland rainforest

• Diet: They have one of the most varied diets of the five rhino species and consume a variety of twigs, bushes, fruits and foliage

Historic range

• Javan rhinos were historically found throughout northeast India and Southeast Asia. Several countries have lost their populations, including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Sumatra in Indonesia.

Average lifespan

• Longevity is unknown, but Javan rhinos are thought to live to 30-40 years

Physical characteristics

• Dusky grey (armour like) loose hanging skin with heavy folds, a small head and single horn

• Males and females are similar in size

• Body length: 200-400 cm

• Height (to shoulder): 120-170 cm

• Weight: 900–2,300 kg

Reproduction

• Year round breeding

• Gestation: 15-16 months

• Birth numbers: Single calf

• Birth interval: 4-5 years

• Female sexual maturity: 5-6years

• Male sexual maturity: 10 years

Social characteristics

• Very little is known regarding their social behaviour although they are solitary except for breeding pairs, mothers with young calves and occassionaly young adults

• They are one of the least vocal of the rhino species, but like the other rhino species they communicate with dung piles known as middens and urine

Rhino horns

• 1 Single horn measuring 25-30 cm

• Horn base is approximately 12 by 18 cm narrowing to between 5-7 cm