A second critically endangered Javan rhino carcass has been discovered – this time in Indonesia.

The world’s most threatened large mammal species, the Javan rhino, has suffered a second devastating loss: A carcass was discovered last week in Indonesia’s remote Ujung Kulon National Park.  

Last month, one of just a handful of Vietnam’s Javan rhinos was brutally killed by poachers, who hacked out the horn.

Ujung Kulon holds the only viable population of the critically endangered species; no more than 48 Javan rhinos remain on the planet, and at least 44 of those are found in Ujung Kulon. 

Dr. Susie Ellis, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation, noted that the rhino’s death appeared to be from natural causes.

Javan rhinos persist in Ujung Kulon because they are carefully monitored and guarded by Rhino Protection Units, elite anti-poaching teams that patrol the park every day.  While the loss of this rhino was tragic, it appears to have died from natural causes rather than poaching.

Rhino Foundation of Indonesia director Widodo Ramono recognized the dead rhino as a male that was frequently seen in area via camera trap, and confirmed the rhino’s horn was intact.

The death of even one animal represents a significant loss for this critically endangered species.

The last photographic record of this animal, a male that had been frequently seen at a nearby wallow, was in March.  Forensic evidence suggests that it died shortly after that time. 

The decomposing skeleton, with its horn intact, was found along a densely forested wildlife trail.

Remaining Javan rhinos at significant risk of extinction

Although the rhino population in Ujung Kulon has remained relatively stable over the past 20 years, the overriding problem facing the species is that there is only one viable population in one location.

Thus there is still significant risk of extinction from a single natural disaster or introduced disease.

Ujung Kulon and surrounding areas were decimated by the eruption of Krakatau in 1883, one of the most violent volcanic events in modern times. Anak Krakatau (“son of Krakatau”) is still active, and the risk of another eruption, and the possibility of a resulting tsunami, still exists.

There also have been a handful of rhino deaths as a result of diseases introduced by domestic livestock living in villages near the park.

Expanding Javan rhino habitiat

Plans to expand the Javan rhino habitat in Indonesia are under way. Rhino experts agree that this step will increase the chances that a second viable population of Javan rhinos can be established, lessening the species’ risk of extinction.

Source: International Rhino Foundation

Photos via International Rhino Foundation

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. Besides writing Rhino Horn is Not Medicine, I am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, the Editor of Project Pangolin, and a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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