Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park Welcomes Birth of 3 Javan Rhino Calves

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Happy news from Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK). Three new calves of the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus Desmarest) have been captured on camera in the Ujung Kulon peninsula area during 2023-2024.

Ardi Andono, Chief of Ujung Kulon National Park Office, said that the certainty of the existence of new Javan rhino calves was obtained from the results of Javan rhino monitoring (MBJ) followed by analysis by Javan rhino identification experts.

This success is part of the improvement of the method of installing trail cameras with systematic sampling (cluster).

"In 2023 to 2024, the trail cameras recorded the Javan rhino mothers and their calves that are suspected to be newborns," Ardi said via text message on Friday, August 30.

Ardi said that the first new calf with identification number ID.092.2023 was a female named Estu, about 2-5 months old, captured on camera on August 4, 2023. The mother's name is Kasih (ID.032.2011).

The second calf with ID. 095.2024 is a male named Wirawono, 7 months old. Wahyu was caught on camera on May 17, 2024. Wahyu's mother is Rislan (ID.061.2014).

The third calf with ID. 096.2024 is a male named Syauqi, 10 months old. He was caught on camera on June 27, 2024. The mother's name is Desy (ID.043.2013)".

Still Threatened by Poachers

According to Ardi, the sighting of three Javan rhino calves is good news and indicates that the Javan rhino population is thriving in its habitat. However, he reminded that the rhinos are still threatened by poaching, disease, inbreeding depression and natural disasters.

In Indonesia, the Javan Rhino is a protected animal. Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, which was revised into Law No. 32 of 2024, imposes a maximum prison sentence of up to 20 years for those found guilty of hunting protected wildlife.

IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)

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