The gender of the mammal, which is not yet known, was seen walking with its mother
Java:
A new Javan rhino calf has been discovered in an Indonesian national park, raising hope for the conservation of one of the world’s most endangered mammals.
The calf, estimated to be between three and five months old, was spotted in video captured Thursday using 126 camera traps installed in Ujung Kulon National Park on Java island.
The mammal, whose gender remains unknown, was seen walking with its mother in the park, the only remaining wild habitat for Javan rhinos.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, a senior official at the Ministry of Environment, said in a statement on Saturday: “Praise God, this is good news and proves that the Javan rhino, which only exists in Ujung Kulon, can Reproduce normally.”
After years of population decline, authorities believe there are 82 rare rhinos inhabiting the roughly 120,000-hectare protected area of dense rainforest and freshwater streams.
Javan rhinos have loose folds of skin that make them look like they are wearing armor.
Their numbers once numbered in the thousands across Southeast Asia, but have been hit hard by rampant poaching and human encroachment on their habitat.
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