Badak Jawa (Rhinocerus sondaicus)

Happy News from Ujung Kulon

The Facts on Java Rhino

The Java Rhinoceros is also known as the lesser one horned rhinoceros. This species is a member of the Rhinocerotidae family and is included in one of the five extant rhinoceroses. The Java Rhino has a resemblance with the Indian Rhinoceros because they come from the same genus. Both species have similar mosaicked skin that looks like armor and as strong as armor. However, the Java Rhino is smaller than the Indian Rhino because its length is only 3 – 3.2 meter in average and 1.4 – 1.7 meter in average height. In term of the size, this rhino is almost similar to the black rhinoceros from the Diceros genus.

The Java Rhino usually only has one horn and the average length of the horn is 25 cm. However, most of the female do not have this horn. They are not social animals, in fact, they are shy and are considered as solitary animal.

Ujung Kulon National Park

Java Rhino is one of the animals that are on the verge of extinction. This is not an understatement because it is recorded that there are no more than 50 of them live in Ujung Kulon. It has been well over a decade that Ujung Kulon is known as the rehabilitation area for Badan Jawa or Rhinoceros sondaicus. As they are the rarest rhino in the world, they are in the red list of the IUCN. The red list means the critically endangered. Fortunately, thanks to all the people who care for Javan Rhino, their population in the last two years seems to be increasing. It has been recorded that there are only 35 Javan Rhino live in the Ujung Kulon in 2011, but the number increased significantly because there are 51 Javan Rhinos in the next year in which 8 of them are still young. With higher hopes then ever, everyone involved are aiming to have another significant increase all through 2013.