The Endangered Rhino

"An Ancient Species In Trouble"

The endangered rhino in Southeast Asia is holding on for dear life.

There are two rhinoceros species that run the risk of extinction in the next half-century. The Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) inhabits the jungles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. The Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) occurs only in Java, Indonesia. At best there are about 500 animals left, but in reality probably half that number remain.

Asia has three living species of rhinoceros; Africa has two. In the past, these large forest mammals roamed from India to Indochina to the islands of Indonesia.

Fossils show that rhinos spread as far as Europe and the Americas long ago. Today they hang on to a sliver of an existence due to consequences of human action.

Check out these rhinoceros facts for a quick overview of these endangered species of Asia.

Javan Rhinoceros, Ujung Kulon, Indonesia
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Endangered Rhino: Threats and Conservation

All rhinoceros species are in danger. Two of three Asian rhinos are critically endangered. That means the next step is extinction in the wild. After that only zoos will keep them alive.

The two reasons for this dilemma are poaching and loss of habitat. The myth of the medicinal value of rhino horn entices hunters to slaughter these large beasts just to cut off a few body parts. Lucrative earnings from traditional Chinese medicine dealers support the trade. And centuries of wanton killings have decimated wild populations.

Rhino born in zoo

Deforestation of lowland habitats pushes wild rhinos into hill and montane forest areas and separates populations into smaller groups at each locality. Successful natural breeding then becomes less common and problems arise from inbreeding.

Conservation solutions approach the demise of the endangered rhino by establishing viable concentrations of wild breeding animals and through captive breeding techniques.

To guarantee longterm survival wildlife managers try to prevent poaching, protect species in wildlife reserves and other protected areas and relocate isolated rhinoceros groups to reserves to bolster breeding populations.

Governments and conservation organizations, such as WWF, have set up priority landscapes in Southeast Asia to secure habitat and provide better management of endangered rhinos and other large mammals.

Periodic forest fires and the expansion of oil palm and timber plantations encroach upon these critical habitats and allow unintentional access points for poachers too.

Endangered Rhino Critical Landscapes

Peninsular Malaysia-South Thailand (Malaysia-Thailand) - Lowland and montane forests protect scattered groups of rhinos surviving in protected areas such as Taman Negara and Belum.

Kinabatangan-Sebuku Sembakung (Borneo) - A large contiguous area of unbroken rainforest between Sabah and Kalimantan and referred to as the "Heart of Borneo". This vast landscapes supports tremendous biodiversity, among them orangutans and elephants. The goal is to establish a new national park in the region to protect Borneo's tropical forests.

Bukit Barisan Selatan (Sumatra) - Encroachment of forest remains a problem at this national park that also protects tigers and elephants. Conservation efforts focus on survey data for wildlife and engaging local communities to reduce poaching and deforestation.

Ujung Kulon (Java) - Ironically the largest population of Javan rhinos inhabits the most populated island in Indonesia. Protection for these remaining animals includes efforts to prevent poaching and improve habitat.

Javan Rhinoceros, Ujung Kulon, Indonesia
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