Endangered Species #4: Javan Rhinoceros
Animal Description
Javan Rhinos also known under the scecientific name of Rhinoceros Sondaicus is one of the world’s most endangered species. You can easily recognize a Javan Rhino by their dinosaur-like appearance as well as their single horn, they actually have the smallest horn of all rhinoceroses. They are about 1.4 m — 1.7 m of height and between 900 and 2,300 kg of weight, their avarage lifespan is probably around 30–40 years. Javan Rhinos mainly eat leaves, twigs, fruits and shoots and often breaks saplings down to access food. Javan Rhinos are solitary and the only time they would pair up or stay in small group is when they are mating or taking care of the young ones.
Role in ecosystem
By mainly eating a lot of leaves, twigs, fruits and shoots, Javan Rhinos help balancing the nature of the food chain of their environment. If they stop doing that (or die), it would negatively affect other wildlife and the people who live in the area. So they are just as important as any other wildlife animals.
Cause of decline
The Javan Rhinoceros has the highest risk of becoming extinct out of all rhinoceroses. One of their threat is small population size because since with so little of them left, around 40–60 left, this leads to inbreeding and loss of genetic variability and vitality. Poaching is the biggest out of all for them as well as habitat loss to agriculture and deforestation.
Conservation efforts
WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) are working together with the Vietnamese and Indonesian governments to protect remaining Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park on Java and the Cat Loc part (Dong Nai province) of the Cat Tien National Park in Viet Nam. They provided education programmes for the local communities, so that they can learn how to use sustainable methods to farm the surrounding land without causing further harm to the rhino
How can you help?
Don’t buy rhinos horn product to help stop illegal poaching
Use and support sustainable wood, paper and palm oil to help stop habitat destruction
Donation to reliable orgnization for helping saving them
Volunteer to help save Javan Rhinos. → https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/stop-wildlife-crime
