Javan Rhino babies

MARK

MARK

Well-Known Member
Some great news for rhino fans, Scientists have seen in resent months four new Javan rhino babies aged from four to six months of age in the Ujung Kulong National park on the western tip of Java giving some hope that the species is recovering in the park. :)
 
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A couple of years back, the population had a small baby boom. Things are looking a little brighter for Javan Rhinos.
 
ThANK THE LORD!!!!!! My favorite rhino species (can't ya tell) is the Javan and I believe that the population requires Ex Situ conservation but I dont think that would be as effective as In Situ. This is really good news, maybe we won't lose a rhino species after all.
 
taun said:
A couple of years back, the population had a small baby boom. Things are looking a little brighter for Javan Rhinos.
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From what I understand the rhinos breed around every four years so maybe there will be a mini baby boom four years apart :)
 
It would be nice if someone or a group of people could go into the park and do a survey and get a good population estimate instead of ~60 individuals.
 
MARK said:
From what I understand the rhinos breed around every four years so maybe there will be a mini baby boom four years apart :)
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Yes, but we do not know how many breeding females there are in the population. This news shows there is atleast four and houpefully, with the law of averages there should be 4 four more bredding females in 8 years time.
 
I do think they try from time to time, you may find some up to date information at the "Rhino Resource centre" website in regards to their numbers
 
The very low numbers of rhinos in Vietnam is a big concern with only a handful of animals known which are thought to be all females, I am not sure if the Javan rhino in Vietnam is any different from the animals in Java? but I guess there are only three options with saving this group are,

Since there are no known males within the group - just let them die out when the life span of these animals is up.

1, Since there has been an inbalance in the Javan group towards males for years maybe tranfer one or two males into the Vietnamese group.

2, Move all remaining members of this group to Java into the Ujung Kulong National park since they are unrelated to this group which could be quite inbred at this stage it could help broaden the gene pool.

3, Move all remaining members from Vietnam to another park in Java and then bring in a couple of males from the Ujung Kulong.

Maybe none of these are a real option but to just see the all female group in Vietnam fade away is a real shame.
 
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I have read some where, they plan to move a small population to another location as a back up to the population in Ujung Kulong.

I will see if I can dig the link out.
 
"We are proposing a test translocation of a few Javan rhinos in the near future to establish a new population in a new area. This requires reliable data and science and setting up video traps allows us to do that without sending researchers spending nights on rickety bamboo platforms trying to observe these highly endangered rhinos," said Adhi. "Since the video traps don’t have any moving parts and are very silent, they can be placed much closer than humans along the favourite haunts of the Javan rhinos, like salt licks, trails and mud wallows."
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World's rarest rhinos make first video trap appearance - then toss camera - 2-Jun-08 press release or news release
 
I had seen it on one of the rhino websites that they wanted the rhino numbers in the Ujung Kulong to reach around 100 before any were relocated any to another park as this number is said to be the maxium number which this park can carry.
 
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I have tried contacting them, but I just get an un-delievered message. :confused:

The problem with waiting is one disease could wipe the entire population. I don't see why they don't catch the Vietnamese group and move these, maybe holding onto a few specimens to study up close (for the further good of the entire species). Even an in-situ zoo could be approached to hold them.
 
Maybe Jelle could shed some light on what is happening with any moves with the Javan rhinos, where is Jelle when we need him, LOL
 
Awesome as news! The Javans are slowly coming back up, can anyone shed light on the Vietnam subspecies?
 
MARK said:
Maybe Jelle could shed some light on what is happening with any moves with the Javan rhinos, where is Jelle when we need him, LOL
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Well,

First of all I have my Christmas recess (allthough strictly atheist ... sorry folks)! Secondly, I do have a second life ... next to Zoochat! :D

Regarding the Javan rhinos the plan for relocation of Javan rhinos is still in the process of embryonic development. First and foremost, the population must be seen to be reproducing successfully. For that reason, the Indonesian govt. and park managers have purchased another set of camera traps to monitor and document the current Ujung Kulon Javan rhino population. They really now need to find out the sex ratio and reproductive capacity of their resident Javan rhino population. Only if this has been effectively established will capture operations to relocate some Javan rhinos to a second protected area on Java be considered. Even as we speak the second rhino area is currently being secured and bomas built for the first few weeks to house the incoming Javan rhinos.

As for reproduction: I remember that some 3-4 years ago a similar event of 4 rhino calves was reported. I will reserve judgment on the current news - till such time I have been able to research my sources - and firmly establish that we now talk of a different set of 4 rhino calves. Even so, with the slow rate of reproduction in rhinos 4 is a decent size anyhow. It proofs that a successfully reproducing population is present in parts of Ujung Kulon. Whether more bulls are breeding needs to be established ... Perhaps they can also venture into dung analysis for DNA/sex genes in the current population (another non-invasive technique that has already been tried with elephants ... rhinos are in a similar mode).

Keep fingers crossed! :cool:
 
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