Javan Rhinoceros Most Endangered Animals in the World

Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is one of the world's rarest wildlife species with an estimated total population of no more than 60 individuals in Ujung Kulon National Park, and approximately eight individuals in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam in 2000. Javan rhinoceros is also the rarest rhino species among the five species of rhino in the world and entered the Red List of IUCN's world conservation body, namely the category of highly endangered or critically endangered.

Rhino is believed to have existed since the Tertiary era (65 million years ago). Like the dinosaurs that became extinct, Rhino at 60 million years ago has 30 types of many extinct. Currently only five remaining rhino species, 2 species of them are in Indonesia.

Types of species rhinoceros surviving are :

• Sumatran Rhinoceros (Sumatran rhino) horned two or Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. There on the island of Sumatran (Indonesia) and Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia).
• Javan rhinoceros (Javan rhino) horned one or Rhinocerus sondaicus. There are in Java (Indonesia) and Vietnam
• Indian Rhinoceros (Indian rhino) or Rhinocerus unicornis one-horned. Artifacts in India and Nepal.
• African Black Rhinoceros (Black Rhino) or Diceros bicormis. There is in Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
• African White Rhinoceros (White Rhino) horned two or Cerathoterium simum. There in the Congo.

Physical characteristics of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinocerus sondaicus)

Javan rhinoceros generally have a gray body color blackish. Having one horn, with a length of about 25 cm but there probably did not grow or female rhino horn is very small. Weight loss a Javan rhinoceros can reach 900 - 2300 pounds with a body length of about 2-4 m. Height can reach almost 1.7 m.

Javan rhinoceros Skin (Rhinocerus sondaicus) have a kind of folds so that it looks like wearing a shield of steel. Having a way similar to the Indian rhinoceros, but the body and smaller head with fewer number of folds. Upper lip is more prominent that could be used to grab food and put it into the mouth. Rhinoceros including shy and solitary type (solitary).

The population of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinocerus sondaicus)

In Indonesia, Javan rhinoceros is expected to spread previously on the island of Sumatran and Java. At that time Sumatran spread across Aceh to Lampung. In Java, Java rhinoceros once widespread throughout Java.

Javan rhinoceros is now only found in Ujung Kulon National Park, Banten. Besides in Indonesia, Javan rhinoceros (Rhinocerus sondaicus) is also available in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. The last individual outside of Ujung Kulon National Park was found shot by poachers in Tasikmalaya in 1934. Now stored at the Zoological Museum of Bogor.

This Rhinoceros is probably the rarest mammals on earth. Based on the population of Javan rhinoceros census conducted by the National Park Ujung Kulon, WWF - IP and YMR in 2001 estimated the number of rhinos in Ujung Kulon population ranges from 50-60 tail. The last census carried out Hall National Park Ujung Kulon in 2006 estimated the range of the Javan rhinoceros population is 20 - 27 animals. While the population in the Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, estimated that only 8 tails (2007).

The population of one horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Java) is only 30 of tails is much smaller than population of his brother, Sumatran Rhinoceros which is estimated to range between 215 -319 tail. Also, far fewer than the population of other animals such as Sumatran Tiger (400-500 heads), Eagle Java (600 heads), Anoa (5000 head).

Javan rhinoceros Conservation and Protection

Javan Rhino in 1910 as a wild animal has been officially protected by the Act by the Government of the Netherlands East Indies, so that in 1921, based on recommendations from The Netherlands Indies Society for Protection of Nature, Ujung Kulon by the Dutch government declared a Nature Reserve. This situation still continues until the status changed to Ujung Kulon Wildlife Reserve under the management of Bureau of Forestry and National Park in 1982.

Ujung Kulon National Park

Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros horned one) is live together in one main area is very vulnerable to extinction is can be caused by disease, natural disasters such as tsunamis, volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, an earthquake. Moreover, these rhinos roaming and also lack of space due to the invasion of human resources for development and competition with bulls, and with Arenga Plants.

Preliminary research WWF identifies suitable habitat, safe and relatively close to the National Park Mist at Gunung Salak, West Java, is was also the habitat of the Javan rhinoceros. If the second habitat is found, then the rhino a healthy, good, and meet the criteria in Ujung Kulon is sent to the new territory. Habitat will also guarantee the security of the population.

 Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Subfilum: Vertebrates. Class: mammals. Order: Perissodactyla. Superfamily: Rhinocerotides. Family: Rhinocerotidae. Genus: Rhinoceros. Species: Rhinoceros sondaicus (Desmarest, 1822)

A little addition; Rhinoceros derived from the Greek "rhino" meaning "nose" and "ceros" meaning "horn". Sondaicus refers to the Sunda Islands in Indonesia. "Sundanese" means "Java" sedangka "ICUs" in Latin indicates the location.