Critically Endangered Javan Rhinoceros Proven to be Breeding
Recent footage from a hidden camera in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia, has proven that the extremely rare Javan Rhinoceros is successfully breading in the wild.
Much to the relief of the park rangers, footage was recorded of a mother Javan Rhino and its young calf feeding on the shrubbery in the park.
There are no Javan Rhinoceros in captivity and therefore it is essential that these animals are capable of breeding in the wild, enabling them to sustain their own population.
There are only 40 of these rhino's left in the wild and as a result they are listed as being critically endangered, along with three other species of rhinos.
The Javan Rhinoceros have been hunted throughout Southeast Asia for the use of their horns in traditional Chinese medicine.This is because of the belief that they hold curative powers, a belief that has never been proven to be true. Javan Rhinoceros were once a well populated species, however the relentless killing of them combined with the destruction of their habitat has led to diminished numbers of the species.
Unfortunately even though the Javan rhino is now listed as being critically endangered, this hasn't put a stop to it being hunted.
One of the remaining rhinos' was found dead last year in Vietnam. It looked as though it has been hunted and its horn had also been sawn off suggesting that the demand for powdered rhino horn in this area of the world is still as strong as ever.
The rhinos are also at risk from other natural causes of death; disease or a natural disaster could easily wipe the species out of extinction, giving conservationists more reason for concern regarding the rhinos.
In light of this, the camera footage brings new hope for the future of the Javan rhino. There were two sets of mother and calf caught on the hidden cameras, one calf male and the other female, something which is being celebrated by workers at the park.
In the future work will continue to protect and help the rhino species, particularly the Javan Rhinoceros, in the hope that they will once again be restored to healthy numbers.
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