Javanese rhinos don’t want to miss population census
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post 19 May 10;
While the Central Statistics Bureau is busy administering a national census, the Ujung Kulong National Park is conducting a similar survey to determine the population of endangered Javanese rhinos in Pandeglang, which lies on the western tip of Java.
Head of the park Agus Priambudi told journalists in Serang on Wednesday that the park authorities had sent a joint team of 80 field workers from the park, the Indonesian Rhino Foundation and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture to carry out the regular census, which will be completed Saturday.
He estimated the population of the protected species at between 50 and 60. In the latest census in 2008, the team discovered four foot prints of infants, possibly aged below one year.
Agus said the findings proved the rhinos were procreating and that their numbers were on the increase.
This year, video cameras set up throughout the area will assist in the census.
Agus said that methods used in previous censuses, including measuring foot prints, had been error-prone.
