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Rhino Resource Center: Rhino Forums > Rhino Species > Javan Rhino > Javan Rhino status

Posted by: ABerner Jun 2 2007, 05:17 PM

I know most sources state that Ujung Kulon has a population of about 60. But how accurate and up-to-date is this number? Have there been any new numbers published recently? Can any increase in numbers be seen since RPU's are patrolling the area or is the little peninsula just to small to accommodate more rhinos? Hope to get some insight into the issue here. Thanks, Adam

Posted by: Tom Jul 7 2007, 10:14 AM

Hi Adam, It seems that the population of javan rhinos is stabile at about 50-60 Rhinos in Ujong Kulon (source: website WWF). Although the park itself should be able to hold about a 100 rhinos. teher are a few factors: - langkap, a kind of palm tree or something, is spreading rapidly inside the park shading out rhino food plants. They are now trying to control or eradicate this wilding plant to ensure enough food supplie for the rhinos. - banteng deer are spreading in the park (about 500 today) and are competing with the rhino for food. They share 25% food species with the rhinos. There is a project going on to maintain the grasslands that attract the banteng to keep them out of the rhino habitat. But the rhinos are still reproducing so that is good news

Posted by: ABerner Jul 7 2007, 10:52 AM

Tom, Thank you for this information. I did not know Banteng and palm trees were the cause of problems in Ujung Kulon. Do you know if there are plans to translocate some animals to more prestine rainforest? Or would this not be necessary because controlling the banteng and langkap trees shows good results? Thanks, Adam

Posted by: Tom Jul 7 2007, 06:59 PM

Hi Adam, I believe translocation isn't an option at this point. The source population (50-60 animals) is too small to remove animals according to rhino experts. Removing animals may lead to a population collapse because the animals are quite scattered in the park and have a hard time finding each other already. Translocation to other sites or translocation for captive breeding will be considered if the population in the park hits 100 (experts believe that is the maximum carrying capacity of the park) They are considering moving some animals within the borders of the park though. The population is still breeding, so they are experimenting with in situ conservation like controlling the langkap and the deer. This started in 2003 and is ongoing. WWF also installed armed rhino patrols at the borders of the park and also at sea (because poachers can easily get to the park by boat). These projects are underway at the moment so it is still early to tell if they will lead to a population increase. I really hope so. Since the 1970's the population is quite stable according to estimates. But if a disease or heavy poaching should occur, it's probably goodbye to yet another rhino subspecies. So the situation remains precarious indeed... The link to the site: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/where/indonesia/wwf_indonesia_conservation/ujung_kulon/the_project/rhino_conservation/index.cfm

Posted by: ABerner Jul 7 2007, 08:11 PM

Tom, Thanks again from some great insight into the situation! Are you in any way affiliated with the conservation programs in Ujung Kulon. How do you know all this? Thanks, Adam

Posted by: Tom Jul 8 2007, 08:51 AM

Hi Adam, I wish I could be involved in such a program. I'm a keen traveller, nature lover and long-time member of WWF. I'm very interested in conservation. Ever since I saw rhinos in the wild in Africa I was so touched by their plight and started looking for information on the internet about their status and things they are doing to protect them. I found this message board on rhinos. Especially the inside information on the northern whites at Dvur Kralove by one of the rhino keepers (Irek) is interesting. I saw the BBC documentary on the artificial insemination program and I'm hoping against hope that they will be able to save the species and eventually be able to return them to the wild where they belong. There's so much information on rhinos on the net, but I find it sometimes difficult to find recent and up-to-date information on their status. So I'm just a 28-year-old rhino-freak from Belgium

Posted by: Tom Jul 8 2007, 08:59 AM

So the Ujong Kulon population of Javan rhino seems stable at this moment. In 2006 there was a reported 'baby boom' with signs of 4 new calves in the park and even a sighting. So hopefully the population is growing very slowly but surely. But what about the tiny remnant population in Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam)? The last information I found dates back to 2004 where there was an estimate of 7 rhinos in the park but no signs of breeding. The rhinos are in desperate need of more land according to WWF Indonesia. Does anyone have some recent information about their status? Are there still any breeding males and females left? Is this population still viable and have their been signs of breeding in recent years?

Posted by: Willem Jul 8 2007, 02:27 PM

Tom, Were glad you are on board! Always nice to see individuals so dedicated to rhinos. Hope you stick around on this forum to join further discussions! (goes for everybody by the way!) Kind regards, Willem

Posted by: nyukitx Aug 2 2007, 04:53 AM

Hey Tom, As an avid traveller, have you been to Java? Do you (or anyone, for that matter) know if there are any tourist accomodations near the peninnsula? And are there any visitors allowed in the park?

Posted by: Tom Aug 2 2007, 06:09 PM

Hi, I've never been to Java so I don't really know if tourists are allowed in the park. I suppose the best way to find out is the internet or perhaps a good travel guide. I'm sorry I can't give you more information. Have a great time in Java and report back to us if you see any rhinos there Greetings, Tom

Posted by: Brooke Aug 20 2007, 11:15 PM

Hi Tom, I went to Ujung Kulon through an ecotour company in 2001. However, we could not enter the park because the river was too high. We would have taken a boat on the river, although I do not remember if we would have gotten out of the boat inside the park. We did visit the edge of the park, where there is a wooden observation tower, although I pretty much observed only peafowl. I don't think the park really had a trail system, but I have no idea what it is like today. We stayed on Peuchang (=deer; although I think there are more macaques) Island, which is right off the coast of the park. You have to travel by boat and it takes 4-5 hours. Make sure you get a reliable boat. Our engine stopped and the crewman hit it with a hammer until it started again. We hit a storm, too, and at several points I had on my life vest and all my documents in a plastic bag in my travel belt, prepared to jump overboard and swim to shore- Ujung Kulon. I think some of my willingness was that I REALLY wanted to see a Javan rhino. I hope you get to go! Brooke

Posted by: Tom Aug 21 2007, 06:03 PM

Hi Brooke, The joys of travel Sounds like fun and at least you have something to laugh about years later. Too bad you didn't get to see a javan rhino. That would have been a real miracle indeed. I always love funny travel stories. I have a few of my own but they don't involve rhinos or rhino habitat, so maybe this isn't quite the forum for it Greetings, Tom

Posted by: Sebastian Högber Nov 4 2007, 09:46 PM

I had the opportunity to visit Ujong Kulon for 8 days in 2005, as a freind of mine was conducting carnivore surveys across Java between March 2005 and June 2007. Myself as well as 4 others was camping along a rocky river, the area had a very rich wildlife, being located rather far into the national park itself. Plenty of birds as well as primates and deers, even saw wild cats on several occasions, unfortunely I didnt saw any rhinos, but consider myself lucky after all as I found droppings several times as well as the remains of an early morning meal, even as close as 500m away from the campsite! The fieldteam I was staying with spend 3 whole weeks inside and around Ujong Kulon (lucky bastards)in 2005, they saw plenty of signs (often several each day) but only had a single observation (a good one though) of a rhino during their time in the park. They conducted a two week long carnivore survey in Ujong Kulon in 2007 as well and again they found alot of sings but only had two observations. The rhinos remaning is surely very shy and is often extremely difficult so observe in the dense and dark vegetation.

Posted by: rhishja Nov 16 2007, 05:55 AM

Hi - I'm new to the messageboard. I have recently become interested in the Javan Rhino, and in my Googlings, I came upon a Sept. 2006 issue of The IUCN/WWF Forest Conservation Newsletter, which said that there were signs of four Javan Rhino calves discovered in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park. Any news of the calves since then? Rhishja

Posted by: rhishja Nov 16 2007, 06:14 AM

Oh sorry, I just reviewed the postings a second time and saw the "baby boom" was already mentioned. Rhishja

Posted by: Feddi Jan 20 2008, 03:15 PM

Found this new photograph of a javan rhinoceros calf nursing. Possible the fifth-one from 2006-2007... Great to know they are breeding Enjoy! http://www.wwf.or.id/index.php?fuseaction=news.detail&id=NWS1200469994&language=e

Posted by: rhishja Jan 31 2008, 11:13 PM

Fantastic photo!! Rhishja

Posted by: rhinopower Mar 22 2008, 08:03 AM

Good that they're stable and still reproducing.

Posted by: ant May 26 2008, 01:35 PM

hi there, I am writing a piece on the Javan Rhino, and am about to set off to Ujung Kulon Ntional park. I was aondering if anyone has any contacts I could get in touch with before i go there. Also, anyone got an answer to Tom's post about the vietnamese subspecies. any left? cheers. Ant (another rhino freak from Belgium)

Posted by: Rhinoprotector Jun 21 2008, 07:28 PM

If you want to see Javan Rhinos at the island of Java or that National Park, then you must keep your eyes peeled as their are only about 61-65 Javan Rhinos, and that National Park has about 9 of those endangered rhinos

Posted by: yangz Mar 11 2010, 08:29 PM

I hope I could have a chance to see a live Javan rhino in my life time. But the usual tourist packages only gives 1 to 2 hours of canoeing through the Cigenter river rhino habitat. And the chances of seeing a rhino is almost zero. I wonder if there are other ways that would give me a better chance to see a javan rhino. Thanks