Indonesia: Javan rhino population declines in TNUK

The Jakarta Post 8 Jul 15;

The population of the Javan rhinoceros, which was earlier estimated at 60 rhinos, has declined as four rhinos had died in the period between 2011 and 2014, says Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) center head Mohammad Haryono in Serang, Banten, on Tuesday.

Based on monitoring conducted by TNUK by using 100 video camera traps from January until December, 2014, the current population of the Javan rhino is around 57, consisting of 31 males and 26 females, Antara news agency reported on Tuesday.

“This is not an ideal composition, which should be one male for every four females. This has caused slow population growth,” Haryono said in a public meeting about the Javan rhinoceros population monitoring result in 2014 organized by the TNUK center and attended by acting Banten Governor Rano Karno at the Banten gubernatorial office in Serang.

Regarding the causes of death, Haryono said they had likely died of diseases, other natural factors or by being killed by animals of prey, such as jungle dogs.