Indonesia: Electric Fence For Javan Rhinos Divides Opinion

Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 21 Jul 11;

Is an electric fence the key to saving the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros? The government seems to think so, but environmentalists say the idea is a dangerous waste of time.

A proposal has been made to put up an electric fence around the 3,000-hectare Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area (Jarhisca) in Banten’s Ujon Kulon National Park.

But Mamat Rachman, a wildlife expert and head of an environmental risk assessment team charged with monitoring the park, said on Wednesday that the fence would cause far more problems than it would fix.

“We have already assessed the plan, and we have clearly stated that if they put fences in those areas it will have a considerable ecological and social impact,” he said. “We recommend the government be really careful about implementing the proposal.”

Mamat said Ujung Kulon was a unique landscape that should not be developed, especially with fencing. “It would inhibit not only the movement of the rhinos but also other animals in the area,” he said. “Moreover, if there was a tsunami or eruption, for instance, all the rhinos at Jarhisca could be wiped out.”

He said the site was also home to panthers and leopards that hunted wild boar and deer.

“If the fence blocks their ability to find prey, they might go to the villages and hunt livestock,” he said. “So you will most likely have more cases of humans and animals coming into conflict.”

The government established Jarhisca in June last year within Ujung Kulon, on the western tip of Banten. Its main aim is to preserve the dwindling number of reclusive Javan rhinos.

The idea of electric fencing came from the Indonesian Rhino Foundation (YABI), a nongovernmental organization supported by the Forestry Ministry. It proposed putting up at least 20 kilometers of electric fencing in the eastern part of the park and two kilometers in the western part.

A plan has been drawn up to divide the 78,000-hectare national park by electric fence into three areas. The 3,000-hectare Jarhisca would be in the center, there would be 19,000 hectares for densely populated areas in the eastern part of the park, and 56,000 hectares for the western part, which is also considered an area for rhinos.

Darori, director general of forest protection and nature conservation at the ministry, said he supported the plan because it was the best hope for the rhinos.

“We want to place all the Javan rhinos in the site and put up fences so that their breeding is not disturbed by humans or other animals,” he said.

The ministry estimates that only 50 Javan rhinos remain in Ujung Kulon. Under its Javan Rhino Action Plan, the government is looking to boost the population to 70 or 80 individuals by 2015. By 2075, the total wild population is hoped to reach 1,000.

Marcellus Adi, a veterinarian specializing in rhinos for the past 20 years, said the only way to save the Javan rhino was to improve its habitat.

“Jarhisca is inspired by the sanctuary in Way Kambas [for Sumatran rhinos] but the fence there is only around 200 hectares and doesn’t drastically divide the park,” he said.

“If they want to build a sanctuary, they only need several hundred hectares and it does not have to be fenced.

“Moreover, they should start with a complete census for Javan rhinos because how can you increase its population if you don’t know how many are out there.”