Javan Rhino : One of The Rarest Animal Species in The World
December 6th, 2009. Published under Life Savers, The Earth. No Comments.
Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is one of the rarest animal species in the world with an estimated population of no more than 60 individuals in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK), in WEST Java Indonesia and approximately 8 individuals in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam (2000). Javan rhinoceros species also are the most endangered among five species of rhino in the world and entered the Red List of IUCN’s world conservation council, namely the category of highly endangered or critically endangered.
Rhino is believed to have been there since the Tertiary Era, (65 million years ago). Like the extinction of Dinosaurs, rhinoceros at 60 million years ago have more than 30 species and most of them have extinct. Currently, the species of rhino are only 5 remaining, of which 2 species found in Indonesia.
The Rhino species surviving are :
• Badak Sumatera (Sumatran rhino) two- horned or Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. There were at Sumatra Island (Indonesia) and Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia).
• Javan rhino one-horned or Sondaicus rhinocerus. There were in Java (Indonesia) and Vietnam.
• Indian Rhinoceros (Indian rhino) one-horned or Rhinocerus unicornis. There were in India and Nepal.
• Black African-horned rhinoceros (Black Rhino) or Diceros bicormis. There are in Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
• African White Rhinoceros-two horned (White Rhino) or Cerathoterium simum. There were in Congo.
Physical characteristics of the Javan rhino (Rhinocerus sondaicus) :
Javan Rhino generally have body color gray blackish. Has one horn, with a length of about 25 cm but there is probably no or very little growth at all in females. Weight of a Javan rhino can reach 900 – 2300 kg with a body length of about 2 to 4 m. The height can reach almost 1.7 m.
The Javan Rhino Skin (Rhinocerus sondaicus) have some sort of folds that look like wearing a shield of steel. Having a way similar to the Indian rhino, but the body and head were smaller, with a number of folds which also more less. The upper lip of Javan rhino is more prominent, so it can be used to grab food and put it in his mouth. The Rhinoceros was the kind of shy and solitary animal.