A unique and critically endangered species that bears a distinct appearance with its dusky grey, hairless skin adorned with several loose folds that mimic the appearance of armor plating. While offering an imposing visage, this natural armor is not just for show but is part of the rhinoceros’s unique adaptation to its environment. One notable feature that sets the Javan rhinoceros apart from its cousins is its horn. Unlike other rhinoceros species known for their long and majestic horns, the Javan rhinoceros presents with a much shorter horn, typically not exceeding 25 cm (10 inches). Furthermore, this species exhibits a sexual dimorphism in this trait; only males are equipped with a horn, while females are not, a fascinating aspect of their biology.

In terms of size and physical appearance, the Javan rhinoceros shares similarities with the Indian rhinoceros but is distinguishably smaller and sports less pronounced skin folds. This subtle difference in physical characteristics highlights the diversity within the rhinoceros family, with each species adapting uniquely to its habitat and lifestyle.

Historically, the Javan rhinoceros had a range that extended across Southeast Asia and reached into northeast India, signifying a once broad distribution that reflected the species’ adaptability and ecological significance. However, the current status of the Javan rhinoceros is in stark contrast to its historical abundance. Today, the entire population of Javan rhinoceroses is confined to Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, a sobering reminder of the species’ perilous state. The eradication of the Javan rhinoceros from Vietnam in 2010, with the poaching of the last individual, underscores the critical threats facing this species, primarily from poaching driven by the demand for their horns.

The predicament of the Javan rhinoceros in Indonesia is a critical conservation concern. The species’ survival hangs in a delicate balance; if the population in Ujung Kulon National Park were to be lost, it would mean the extinction of the Javan rhinoceros.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bangladesh

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 20th century

Cambodia

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 2010

China

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 20,000 years ago

India

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 20th century

Indonesia

76

Official estimate

CR

2019

Laos

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally

Malaysia

–

Official estimate

EX

Last hunted 1932

Myanmar

–

Official estimate

EX

Last record 1920

Thailand

–

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally

Vietnam

–

Official estimate

EX

Last hunted 2010