Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Rhinoceros
Species:	R. sondaicus
Subspecies:	R. s. sondaicus

Trinomial name

Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus
Desmarest, 1822

The Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus, is one of the two surviving subspecies of the Javan Rhinoceros. This subspecies now only lives in one population in the Ujung Kulon National Park on Java. There are now just 50–60 animals left in the wild and no captive animals. Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros numbers have been stagnant in size for around the last 15 years. Although their population is stable it is still much too small. They are larger than the other subspecies, the Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus. They can weigh between 900-2,300 kg, body length of 2-4 m, and a height of 170 cm. This subspecies is grey in color. Their main habitat is tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. Decline of this animal is from habitat loss, and illegal poaching. Hunting is still being continued and some more conservation measures should be taken to ensure their survival for generations to come.

[edit] References

Asian Rhino Specialist Group (1996). Rhinoceros sondaicus ssp. sondaicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR C2b, D v2.3)