Rare Moment! Javan Rhino Caught On Camera Soaking In Ujung Kulon

Badak Jawa (Twitter / @SitiNurbayaLHK video screenshot)

JAKARTA - The Javan rhino is quite shy. This horned animal is also included in the rarest category among rhino species in the world.

Interestingly, the activity of the Javan Rhino or animal named Latin Rhinoceros sondaicus Desmarest was caught on camera by the Marine Patrol Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) team in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK).

"There were five Javan Rhino individuals who were caught on camera doing salt licking activities. The Javan rhino did not feel disturbed when the recording was done," wrote Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Siti Nurbaya on her personal Twitter account, Tuesday, February 2.

Based on the IUCN Red List, the Javan Rhino has a critical or Critically Endangered status, which means one step towards extinction in nature. The Javan rhino population, which is estimated to be 67 individuals, only exists in the Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK), to be precise on the Ujung Kulon Peninsula.

This relatively small rhino population [less than 100 individuals], concentrated in isolated areas, of course has a high degree of threat from extinction. This prompted the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to implement a strategy and the Indonesian Rhino Conservation Action Plan, stipulated in Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 43/2007, which has designated an area of 5,100 hectares within the TNUK area as an expansion of Javan rhino habitat.

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- Siti Nurbaya Bakar (@SitiNurbayaLHK) February 2, 2021

"Direct findings at the TNUK have proven that the Javan rhino habitat is in good condition. This is due to the strengthening of the area patrol system which is routinely carried out and the strong support of the village community around the Ujung Kulon National Park in assisting the implementation of rhino protection and monitoring," said the Minister. Siti.

With intensive habitat development accompanied by the opening of a corridor from the Ujung Kulon Peninsula, it is hoped that individual rhinos will move into the Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area (JRSCA). Later that location will become a sub-population of Javan rhinos managed by using relevant (appropriate) breeding techniques.

So far there is a small group of Javan rhinos in the area including five Javan rhinos named Mantili, Kujang, Mustopa, Arya and Raksa. So that this condition is able to become the main carrying capacity for developing behavior towards individual Javan Rhino populations in TNUK.