A new Javan rhinoceros calf has been discovered in a national park in Indonesia, bringing hope for the conservation of one of the world's most endangered mammals.
Last month, 126 cameras were installed in Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java, and one of them captured footage of the young rhinoceros estimated to be between 3 and 5 months old.
The Indonesian Ministry of Environment has released a news image showing a rare Javan rhinoceros captured in Ujung Kulon National Park. Image Source: Ujung Kulon National Park
The gender of this mammal is yet to be determined, but it's seen strolling with its mother in the park, which serves as the last remaining habitat for the Javan rhinoceros.
On April 6th, a senior official from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, stated in a release, "This is indeed good news, proving that the Javan rhinoceros, existing solely in Ujung Kulon, can reproduce successfully."
After years of declining rhinoceros populations, authorities believe that there are currently 82 of these rare rhinos residing in this protected area spanning approximately 120,000 hectares, consisting of dense tropical rainforests and freshwater streams.
Javan rhinoceroses feature loose folds of skin resembling armor. Once numbering in the thousands across Southeast Asia, rampant poaching and human encroachment into their habitats have severely depleted their numbers. Ujung Kulon National Park now stands as their sole refuge.
