Protecting The Javan Rhinoceros

Protecting The Javan Rhinoceros

Image of a Javan Rhino by O'Reilly Deck

The Endangered Species

    The species I chose to research was the Javan Rhinoceros. They are large mammals, gray in color, hairless, and have one horn located above their nose. Since the Javan Rhino is critically endangered with only 66 total Rhinos, 18 of which are mature adults (as of 2019, IUCN), they are a protected species that inhabits the Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia. This is the only location where they can be found meaning in the food chain, this factor forcibly places them in a safe position on the food chain since they're protected and have no natural predators in this setting. As far as diet goes, Rhinos are herbivores meaning they only consume vegetation and play a critical role in the ecosystem by doing so. The life cycle of the Javan Rhinoceros is difficult to pinpoint because they've always been endangered since humans started tracking them definitively. We do know that their estimated lifespan is around 30-40 years and they mostly prefer solitude unless they're mating or a mother and child (WWF). As of 2019, the IUCN confirms that the Javan rhino is in a stable condition thanks to their protection being put into place.

The Habitat

 

 Ujong Kulon National Park by Achmad Soerio Hutomo

    Javan Rhinoceros inhabit the Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java in Indonesia for protection reasons, making the habitat their only alternative.
Java Indonesia credit to Brigitte Werner

This being said, the National Park has a rainforest climate with many other animal and plant species. The Javan rhino doesn’t have a choice of their habitat and with little knowledge of where they were prior to their protection, they do seem to be maintaining a healthy and stable population in the forest setting but are reaching carrying capacity for the space they’ve been provided. Issues with their habitat include drought and invasive species that disrupt the ecosystem which is a problem for the conservationists trying to maintain and grow the Javan Rhino population (IUCN). Java, Indonesia is in a subtropical moist forest biome that is centrally located around the equator, its temperature is typically around 82℉ and the average rainfall annually is 69 inches (Jakarta).


Biomes of the world by Philippe Rekacewicz

One of the only primary consumers in the Ujung Kulon National Park is the Javan Rhinoceros, although there are many omnivore species such as the Java gibbon and crab-eating macaque as well as carnivores like the Asiatic wild dog and Eurasian otter.
Asiatic Wild Dog by Subramanya C K

For primary producers, the National Park’s forest has many including trees such as the Parinari corymbosum and flowers like the ipomoea pes-caprae (World Heritage Datasheet).

A Critical Threat

A Mother and child Rhinoceros who has been de-horned byAndy Morffew

 
    The threat that the Javan Rhinoceros isn’t currently facing but led to its labeling as critically endangered was poaching for their horns. Poaching for horns killed off the Javan Rhino populations in its previously known locations in Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos (WWF). So why do Rhinoceros get poached for their horns? There are multiple uses for their horns which are made up of Keratin, something primarily used in Chinese medicine (IAPF). Ground-up Keratin holds many other ingredients that once ground down into a powder can be used to treat, “gout, rheumatism, fever, headaches, vomiting, food poisoning, and typhoid” (IAPF). Research suggests that Rhino horns have not successfully been proven to help with these health issues. Another use for the Rhinoceros horn is for prize/decoration (Treehugger). This is an issue that does not affect other species in the subtropical moist forest biome that the Javan Rhinos live in, but it does affect other Rhinoceros breeds. Another breed of Rhinoceros is the Black Rhinoceros that inhabits the tropical grassland biome of Africa (BluePlanetBiomes). The same threat is faced by both breeds regardless of the biome they inhabit due to the high demand for their horns. The effect of the near extinction of the Rhinoceros is critical to the ecosystems in their environments. Rhinos are grazers meaning they eat grass-like vegetation and maintain the land this way which further helps plant species grow, other animal species roam and create refuge during wildfires for animals that may not be able to escape (AG).

Solutions

    Here in Keene, NH you might not think there is anything we can do to help in stopping this threat that Rhinoceros (and other species) face but, we can! Although this is an issue that first occurs in other countries, there are measures we can take to help in preventing the spread of poaching and illegal trade. Something small that can help further protect and oppose illegal trading of items such as the Rhinoceros horn is being conscious of the goods we purchase. Buying certified goods that aren't a product of land or habitat destruction, or using things such as Keratin from the horns of Rhinos and Elephants is a crucial step in making these products less in high demand (Ecomena). Consuming products from places that are a key factor in the issue can further authorize the harm being done to these species and the environment. Another important action we can take is supporting and donating to companies making an effort to stop the poaching and illegal trade of animal goods. 

WWF logo by Ria Tan

For example, the World Wildlife fund is an organization working towards protecting our natural resources, people, and animals on our planet. In the case of poaching, they are taking measures to ensure the safety of the Rhinoceros by enforcing illegal trade laws, relocating groups facing danger, as well as expanding the protected areas they currently inhabit (WWF).