doc. UjungKulon National Park
Did You Know Indonesia Is Home to One of the Rarest Animals on Earth—The Javan Rhinoceros?
Up until the mid-19th to early 20th century, the Javan rhinoceros ranged far beyond the islands of Java and Sumatra. Its habitat once extended across mainland Southeast Asia and Indochina, reaching as far northwest as eastern India, Bhutan, and southern China.
Today, the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is considered the rarest of all rhino species, and one of the rarest large mammals on the planet. It currently survives in only one known wild population, and no individuals have been successfully kept in captivity.
This rhino species is easily distinguished by its single horn, which sets it apart from its close relative, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), found on the neighboring island of Sumatra. The Javan rhino’s horn is smaller and less pronounced, and its skin forms loose folds, giving it a plated appearance similar to the Indian rhinoceros—but with noticeable differences in the texture and shape of the neck folds.
A population of about 50–60 Javan rhinos now survives in Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java, Indonesia. For years, they were believed to be the last of their kind until a small population was discovered in Vietnam. However, the Vietnamese subspecies (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) has since been declared extinct.
Today, Ujung Kulon remains the last refuge for this magnificent and critically endangered species—a living reminder of the importance of conservation efforts.