Four New Baby Javan Rhinos Born This Year Increases The Critically Endangered Population To 75 Individuals In The Wild

A Javan rhino calf spotted on camera trap in Ujung Kulon National Park on March 27, 2021. Photos from Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Twitter

Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry has announced that the world’s only remaining population of Javan rhinos has increased to 75 individuals in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP).

In April and June of 2021, two Javan rhino calves were spotted on camera by the park’s Javan Rhino Monitoring Team. This follows the birth of two Javan Rhinos in March of 2021.  

Cameras are positioned throughout UKNP to capture rhino movements and assist park officials in tracking new births for population counting. The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) through its on-the-ground partner, Yayasan Badak Indonesia, provides support for the monitoring program and recently donated one hundred new cameras to replace those that were damaged or missing.

“The International Rhino Foundation welcomes and celebrates these important new youngsters,” Nina Fascione, IRF’s Executive Director said in a statement. “New births and the increasing population of this critically endangered species is exciting news and the result of the commitment of the Government of Indonesia and Park officials to the protection of the Javan rhino and its habitat.”

Ten years ago, there were fewer than 50 Javan rhinos in UKNP, but with the Park’s conservation efforts, the rhino population has been gradually increasing with at least one new calf every year since 2012.

Javan rhinos are one of five rhino species found worldwide, they are found only in Indonesia’s UKNP where the population appears to have stabilized, largely because they are guarded by Rhino Protection Units (RPUs). There has been no poaching reported in UKNP in more than 20 years.

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