Javan Rhino Found Dead in Ujung Kulon
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27 April 2019 13:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The authority of Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) confirmed that it recently found a dead Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) at the endangered species' last habitat in TNUK, Banten Province.
TNUK public relation officer Monica Dyah Rahmaningsih said that the patrol team found the carcass of the rhino at Citadahan forest area on March 21, 2019. The forest is one of the habitat areas of Javan rhino's population in the southern part of the national park.
The cause of the animal's death is allegedly intestinal colic.
"The dead rhinoceros was found when the team conducted a patrol in the noon," Monica said as quoted by Betahita.id, Thursday, April 25, adding that it was a young male rhino but the exact age was not identified yet.
Monica said her side had conducted a necropsy to find out the cause of the death, pending the lab result.
"From what we witnessed, the horn and the body were complete. There was no open scar and blood flew in several parts," Monica said. She went on to say that her institution was still studying the possibility of illness as the main cause of the rhinoceros' death.
"We'll announce the official release regarding the cause [of the death]."
Last year, another Javan rhino named Samson was also found dead at Karang Ranjang beach in Pandeglang, that is also in the TNUK area.
Based on the pathology test, the death of the adult male rhino was caused by intestinal colic. Microflora bacteria in the intestine released toxic that was spread to the whole body and damaged the organs of the rhino.
Javan Rhino is one of the world's rarest big mammals and is protected under Indonesian laws. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared its status as Critically Endangered/CR.
Meaning that its population in the wild is on the verge of extinction with the current population recorded at 68 individuals, with two births in 2018. There are 29 adult male rhinos, 24 adult female, and 15 young rhino. It decreased to only 67 individuals after the recent death of the endangered species at the TNUK.
TNUK chief confirmed the news of the rhinoceros' death at the national park. "I know about it, yet I don't really know the detail," he said.
Previously, director-general of natural resource and ecosystem conservation at the environment and forestry ministry Ir. Wiratno stated that his office is examining the study on the death of Javan rhino at Ujung Kulon National Park.
BETAHITA.ID |TERAS.ID
