WWF Indonesia has been involved in rhino conservation since 1962, starting with research on Javan Rhinos in Ujung Kulon. After doubling the population of Javan Rhinos in Ujung Kulon between 1967 - 1978, WWF Indonesia together with Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) and other conservation organizations continue to strive to maintain the stability and increase the population of Javan Rhinos, population and habitat studies, facilitate efforts to improve the welfare of the community around Ujung Kulon, and increase community participation and awareness in rhino protection and conservation. This community participation is needed to prevent rhino poaching and habitat destruction.

The Javan Rhino population in Ujung Kulon National Park currently numbers 60 individuals. The integrity of its habitat is competing with the massive growth of langkap (Arenga obtusifolia), a type of palm plant that blocks sunlight from penetrating the lower part of the forest, causing the rhino's natural food not to grow. This is one of the serious threats, apart from natural disasters, to the survival of the Javan rhino population, which is the only one left in Indonesia.

"Javan rhinos must immediately find a "new home" as their second habitat besides Ujung Kulon. This is a necessary mitigation measure to ensure the survival of the Javan Rhino population in the world," said Dr. Arnold Sitompul, Conservation Director of WWF Indonesia. "The condition of the Javan rhino habitat in TNUK is very vulnerable to natural disasters, due to its location near Mount Krakatau. If one day it erupts and destroys the Javan rhino habitat, then we will lose one of Indonesia's biodiversity assets," Arnold added.

Sumatran rhinos are equally in need of urgent rescue efforts. Land fires, plantation expansion, illegal logging and poaching are the main issues for rhino conservation in Sumatra. Concrete steps are needed from the Government of Indonesia to immediately save the Sumatran Rhino.

Of the nine Sumatran Rhino population pockets in Sumatra and Kalimantan, only four remain. The results of recent studies show that local extinction has occurred, such as in Kerinci Seblat National Park, which since 2008 has no longer found Sumatran Rhinos. The latest data based on the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA; 2015) reported that the population of Sumatran Rhinos (Dicerorinus sumatrensis) is estimated to be around 100 individuals, living in the areas of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and Way Kambas National Park and one new population pocket was identified in 2013 in East Kalimantan.

The discovery of the existence of Sumatran Rhinos in Kalimantan is a breath of fresh air. Whereas the Sumatran Rhino in Kalimantan was believed to be extinct, and this is a hope amid predictions of declining rhino population numbers in the world. WWF Indonesia together with the Indonesian Rhino Joint Secretariat are conducting further research to determine the population size and presence, so that appropriate rescue measures can be taken to maintain and develop the Sumatran Rhino population in Kalimantan.

To commemorate the upcoming International Rhino Day (World Rhino Day) on September 22, WWF Indonesia in collaboration with several institutions held a series of events, in Aceh, Lampung, Ujung Kulon, Jakarta and West Kutai. Through these events, it is hoped that it can increase public knowledge and awareness of the fate of rhinos in Indonesia.

Note to Editor:

1. In Jakarta, the World Rhino day event (September 22) will be held at Loop Station, a Photography Discussion in collaboration with National Geographic Indonesia and National University. Experts in wildlife photography will be present, including Stephen Belchar from New Zealand who managed to photograph Javan Rhinos directly in the wild.
2. Writing competition for bloggers in collaboration with CeritaAnda.Viva.co.id, which will end on September 30..
3. In Aceh, there will be a Global March for Rhino and Elephant, on October 3, a street campaign with the Earth Hour Banda Aceh community and visits to schools.
4. In Ujung Kulon, there will be visits to schools, infographic creation by school students and a writing competition about Javan rhinos for journalists around Banten, West Java.
5. In Lampung, there will be a street campaign on September 19th.
6. In West Kutai, there will be visits to schools, as well as a rhino habitat photo competition on September 18-27.
7. In Balikpapan, there will be an expert discussion on Sumatran Rhino conservation efforts in Kalimantan on September 21-22 at the Gran Senyiur Hotel.

For more information, please contact:

Yuyun Kurniawan, Project Leader Ujung Kulon National Rhino Conservation Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia: Email: ykurniawan@wwf.or.id, Hp: 0811-122-0066

Diah R. Sulistiowati,Forests and Species Campaign Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia
Email: dsulistiowati@wwf.or.id, Hp: 0811-100-4397