Jakarta – The Javan Rhinoceros population in Ujung Kulon Peninsula, Ujung Kulon National Park, continues to decline. From previously estimated 50 rhinos, now only 35 are found left, comprising of 22 males and 13 females.

With a population this small, Javan Rhinos have been classified as critically endangered species.

”Threats of extinction are coming from limited food resources, disease, forest encroachment, and natural disasters,” said Javan Rhinoceros Monitoring Team, Yanto Santoso, at the Ministry of Forestry office in Jakarta, Thursday (29/12).

Yanto explained that a new method, Video Trap, is used to study the development and population number of Javan Rhinos. “We use this method because rhinos are hard to find. In previous years, we used foot-print recording and the results are very minimum,” said Yanto.

So from February until November 2011, the Monitoring Team has installed 44 video trap units in Ujung Kulon Peninsula. The target is all Javan Rhinos. “And we now have 427 video clips of Javan Rhinos in their natural habitat,” said Yanto.

Concurrently, Head of Ujung Kulon National Park, Agus Priambudi said this conservation management is to increase the population of Javan Rhinos. “Both from quantity, quality, and habitat,” said Agus.

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said he is optimistic with all the efforts done to increase the Javan Rhinoceros population. “The Monitoring Team is comprised of experts. So I am optimistic it will succeed and the Javan Rhinoceros population with increase,” said Zulkifli.

He said, Javan Rhinoceros conservation efforts are still maintained in Ujung Kulon. “Because if we move them elsewhere, we don’t know whether the habitat will be suitable. So for the time being, it will still be in Ujung Kulon.

As part of the conservation effort, there is a plan to make 2012 as the International Rhinoceros Year. “Currently we are proposing this to the president. Hence, we need support from everybody,” said Zulkifli. (fad/jpnn)

Sumber : Jawa Pos National Network