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Javan Rhinoceros

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iJavan Rhinoceros

Image:JavanRhinoceros2.jpg

A Javan Rhinoceros

Conservation status

Image:Status iucn2.3 CR.svg
Critically endangered (CR)

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Rhinoceros
Species:	R. sondaicus

Binomial name

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Desmarest, 1822

Image:Rhinoceros sondaicus distribution map.jpeg

Javan Rhinoceros Range

Subspecies

Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus
Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis (extinct)
Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus

The Javan Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus is one of the rarest and most endangered large mammals anywhere in the world. According to 2002 estimates, only about 60 remain alive, in Indonesia and Vietnam. Even these tiny populations are still being poached and the outlook for the species is grim.

1 Habitat
2 Physical features
3 Diet
4 Behavior & Reproduction
5 Conservation
6 Subspecies
7 References
8 Notes
9 External links
10 See also

[edit] Habitat

Javan rhinoceri are primarily found in Ujung Kulon National Park. It is believed that there are still remnants of its population scattered in the rainforests of Laos, Kampuchea, and Southern Vietnam. These animals prefer large floodplains and mud wallows.

[edit] Physical features

Like the closely related larger Indian Rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros has only a single horn. Its hairless gray skin fall into folds into the shoulder, back, and rump giving it an armored-like appearance. The Javan rhino's body length reaches up to 10-10.5 feet(3.1-3.2 meters), including its head. Adults weigh up to 3,000-4,400 pounds(1,360-2,000 kilograms). Females are typically larger than the males and often have a knob instead of a horn. Like other rhinos, it has very poor eyesight, but an acute sense of smell.

[edit] Diet

The Javan Rhinoceros' diet include shoots, twigs, young foliage, and fallen fruit. It knocks down saplings to reach its food and grabs it with its prehensile upper lip.

[edit] Behavior & Reproduction

The Javan Rhinoceros is a solitary animal with the exception of breeding pairs and calves. They sometimes will come together at salt licks and mud wallows as well. The Females reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age while the males are at 6 years of age. The birth interval for this species is 4-5 years and the calve is weaned around 2 years.<ref>Javan Rhinoceros. Wildlife at Animal Corner. Animal Corner (2003). Retrieved on 11-11-06.</ref>

[edit] Conservation

The main reason for its decline are the low altitude rain forests due to logging which had a major impact on the population. Even with all the conservational efforts, the Javan rhinoceros' chance of survival is grim. Because most of the population is primarily kept in a small area, it is very prone to disease. By the 1930's the rhinoceros was nearly hunted to extinction in India, Burma, Malay, and Sumatra for the medical powers of its horn and blood.

[edit] Subspecies

There are three subspecies of the Javan rhinoceros.

Indian Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis) (extinct)
Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) (Vietnam only 2 - 7 animals left)
Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus) (Java 50 - 60 animals left)

[edit] References

Asian Rhino Specialist Group (1996). Rhinoceros sondaicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR C2a v2.3)
Emanoil, Mary. Encylopedia of Endangered Species; Gale Group
Javan Rhinoceros. Wildlife at Animal Corner. Animal Corner (2003). Retrieved on 11-11-06.
http://www.rhinos-irf.org/rhinoinformation/javanrhino/index.htm
NHNZ made a television documentary about the plight of Asia's rhinos, and featured Ujung Kulon National Park, with wildlife ranger Pak Saridja, who has devoted his life to saving the Javan rhino - it's title The Forgotten Rhino