WWF-UK: New hope for Javan rhino
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New hope for Javan rhino
Wednesday 10 October 2001
Hopes for the survival of one of the world's rarest large mammals have been raised by newly released evidence that four Javan rhinos have been born in Indonesia in the last two years.
Currently, the only viable population is in Ujung Kulon National Park, where there are estimated to be around 50 rhinos, with another five to eight thought to live in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam. The new births were confirmed through an 18-month survey carried out by WWF and the national park authority. The survey used camera traps set deep in rhinoceros habitat, DNA analysis of droppings and tracking to determine the number of animals living in Ujung Kulon.
A significant step
"The births are a significant step and indicate that the rhinoceros are breeding with potential for further population gains after years of zero growth," said Nazir Foead, deputy director for species conservation at WWF-Indonesia. "The aim of WWF and the park authority is to build the population up to the habitat's carrying capacity of about 80 animals. Once this is achieved, it will allow for the translocation of other animals to form a founding group for a second Javan rhino population in Indonesia."
The survey began in January 2000 with the setting up of 10 cameras in Ujung Kulon. Between August 2000 and July 2001, the team found footprints of calves and mothers. In August and September 2000, photos of a mother named Cici were taken, followed in January 2001 by a calf named Doly. Another calf, Rara, estimated to have been born in April 1999, has been captured twice on camera. Footprints of one more calf and mother were located in July 2001and, although cameras have been set up, neither this mother nor calf have been photographed yet.
Ujung Kulon was originally established as a nature reserve to protect the Javan rhino, whose population had fallen to between 25 and 30 animals in the 1930s. WWF has been working with the Indonesian authorities since the 1960s and is helping village communities around the Ujung Kulon National Park to improve their livelihoods without jeopardising rhino conservation.
This work includes supporting micro-credit programmes for women and farmers' groups, and promoting locally based ecotourism co-operatives and agroforestry measures. WWF has also been working with the International Rhino Foundation to support Rhino Monitoring and Protection Units. These are made up of park rangers and local people as part of an effort to boost community participation in conservation.
"Working with the local community, the park authorities and the government, between 1967 and 1978 we managed to double the population of Javan rhinos. WWF will continue to support conservation activities in Ujung Kulon, but much more intensive monitoring of the new-borns and their mothers is needed so that the population growth can be determined," Mr Foead added.
A significant step
"The births are a significant step and indicate that the rhinoceros are breeding with potential for further population gains after years of zero growth," said Nazir Foead, deputy director for species conservation at WWF-Indonesia. "The aim of WWF and the park authority is to build the population up to the habitat's carrying capacity of about 80 animals. Once this is achieved, it will allow for the translocation of other animals to form a founding group for a second Javan rhino population in Indonesia."
The survey began in January 2000 with the setting up of 10 cameras in Ujung Kulon. Between August 2000 and July 2001, the team found footprints of calves and mothers. In August and September 2000, photos of a mother named Cici were taken, followed in January 2001 by a calf named Doly. Another calf, Rara, estimated to have been born in April 1999, has been captured twice on camera. Footprints of one more calf and mother were located in July 2001and, although cameras have been set up, neither this mother nor calf have been photographed yet.
Ujung Kulon was originally established as a nature reserve to protect the Javan rhino, whose population had fallen to between 25 and 30 animals in the 1930s. WWF has been working with the Indonesian authorities since the 1960s and is helping village communities around the Ujung Kulon National Park to improve their livelihoods without jeopardising rhino conservation.
This work includes supporting micro-credit programmes for women and farmers' groups, and promoting locally based ecotourism co-operatives and agroforestry measures. WWF has also been working with the International Rhino Foundation to support Rhino Monitoring and Protection Units. These are made up of park rangers and local people as part of an effort to boost community participation in conservation.
"Working with the local community, the park authorities and the government, between 1967 and 1978 we managed to double the population of Javan rhinos. WWF will continue to support conservation activities in Ujung Kulon, but much more intensive monitoring of the new-borns and their mothers is needed so that the population growth can be determined," Mr Foead added.
