When speaking about rhinos, everybody thinks of the Sumatran Rhino first, not knowing that the Javan Rhino is the rarest of the rhino species with fewer than 60 animals surviving in only two known locations: one in Indonesia and the other in Vietnam. Rhinos have been poached from these small populations in recent years and much more intensive protection is needed if this species is to survive. However, the Javan and the Sumatran compete for the dubious distinction of being the most endangered species of rhino.
Name and origin:
* Rhinoceros sondaicus
* Rhinoceros: from the Greek rhino, meaning “nose†and ceros, meaning “hornâ€
* sondaicus: (Latin -icus indicates a locality) referring to the Sunda islands in Indonesia.; “Sunda†means “Javaâ€
There are 2 sub-species of Javan rhino – the Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros in which there are only about 50-60 individuals and the Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros which is on the brink of complete extinction. Both sub-species are classed as critically endangered.
Like the closely related larger Indian Rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros has only a single horn. Its hairless, hazy 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 and a height of 6 feet tall. Adults weigh up to 3,000-4,400 pounds(1,360-2,000 kilograms). Males horns can reach 10 inches in length while in females they are knobs or no horn at all. Females however are slightly bigger than males. Like the Indian Rhinoceros it has the sharp lower incisor teeth used in fights. To chew its herbivorous diet it has two rows of broad, low crowned molars. It has the smallest ears of all rhino species and has a prehensile lip. Like other rhinos, it has very poor eyesight, but acute senses of smell and hearing.
*** After World War II, Chinese poachers threatened the Javan rhino in the Udjung Kulon reserve. However, after a poacher was killed by a Javan tiger in the reserve, the poachers left for fear of the tigers (Boyle 1959). Unfortunately for the Javan rhinos (not to mention the tigers themselves), the Javan tiger is now extinct.
*** The Javan rhino can tolerate disturbed forest. Despite this fact, the few surviving rhinos have been forced to retreat to less desirable upland habitats because of the intense pressure from human settlement in its preferred lowland habitat.
*** The Javan rhino usually seeks to escape rather than attack an enemy, although when wounded or with a calf it may charge.
*** The Javan and Indian rhinos were thought to be the same species for many years. However, the Indian rhino is a little larger, its skin folds are slightly different and its skin is “knobby†as opposed to the smoother skin of the Javan rhino.
The Javan rhino appears to be a more adaptable feeder than other extant rhino species: in the tropical rainforest where the species now survives, it is a pure browser, but it possibly was a mixed feeder (both browse and grass) in other parts of its historic range where the species is generally believed to have occupied more lowland areas, especially along watercourses
Photo source: Animal Corner