There are only 76 of These Massive Animals Left

The Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) once roamed across many countries in Southeast Asia. Around 2,000 years ago, they were still common in many parts of China. Around 12,000 years ago, they also lived in Borneo. Today, you can only find Javan rhinos in one place on Earth, the Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia. Over the last 150 years, their population has been shrinking. Today, experts estimate only 76 Javan rhinos are left. The exact number may even be smaller.

About the Javan Rhino

There are five species of rhinos in the world. Three of them, including the Javan rhino, are critically endangered, while two are threatened. The Javan rhino is the most endangered of the five species. It is also one of the rarest large mammals in the world.

Javan rhinos live in dense jungles and tend to be shy of humans. Because of this, there is much we don’t know about their species since researchers have a difficult time finding them to study. A solitary animal, Javan rhinos don’t form social groups but live alone except when they mate or care for their young. Scientists think their lifespan may be around 30 to 40 years. We know they mate during July through November, but the gestation period is unknown. Scientists assume it’s likely around 16 months, the same for the greater one-horned rhino.

Javan rhinos are herbivores and eat plants. Their diet includes soft twigs, shoots, young leaves, and fallen fruit. Because they require a lot of calories to support their massive bodies (2,000 to 5,100 pounds), the rhinos eat around 110 pounds of plants per day.

The Danger From Poachers

Javan rhinos only exist in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia. There was a population living in Vietnam, but the last one died in 2011. The park has been monitoring the population since 1967 when there were only 25 rhinos. Park officials estimated the herd grew to 76 individuals in 2022. However, a tragic event occurred recently when suspected poachers broke into the park, possibly killing nearly a third of the current Javan rhino population.

In 2024, 13 suspected poachers were arrested for targeting rhinos in the Indonesian park. The poachers admitted to having killed at least 26 of the 76 Javan rhinos for their horns. Rhino horns are in high demand on the black market and may sell for as much as $11,000 an ounce.

An international criminal network emerged after the international rhino horn trade was banned in 1977 The illegal organizations employ poachers to illegally enter the park and kill rhinos for their horns, outfitting them with high-end gear such as helicopters, rifles with silencers, and night vision equipment.

Today, the exact number of Javan rhinos left in the park is unknown.

Other Threats Facing the Javan Rhino

Aside from the ever-present threat of poachers, Javan rhinos face other threats. Because there are so few left, there is a lack of genetic diversity in the herd, and only about two males for every female.

The Javan rhinos also face habitat loss as their rainforest habitats disappear. The rhinos need to eat a lot of plants per day to survive. Currently, the park where they live can only support a limited number of rhinos.

Helping the Javan Rhino

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) works with the Ujung Kulon National Park to help protect the remaining Javan rhinos and expand their population. When park officials discovered poachers had been targeting the Javan rhino, they closed the Park to visitors and increased security measures. Park staff lead Rhino Protection Units (RPUs) of highly trained teams that patrol key areas in the park and protect critical habitats.

Additionally, scientists discovered that the rhino habitat was shrinking due to an invasive plant, called the Arenga palm. The palm was overtaking the plants the rhinos eat. The IRF hired local villagers to remove the invasive plants, helping to extend the rhino’s habitat. The villagers cleared out around 250 acres of land. Since then, cameras have caught rhinos in the cleared area. Some of the rhinos they caught on camera were calves.

To help the rhinos not only survive but also increase their population, experts are looking into creating a second population in a separate location. This would ease the burden of the Indonesian Park and help the survival chances of the species.

How Can You Help?

To aid rhino conservation efforts and continue to protect the endangered animals from dangerous poachers, conservation groups need donations and funding. If you would like to know where to donate to help these efforts, we’ve rounded up two highly rated non-profits that support rhinos.

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is a United States-based organization that protects and supports rhino populations in Africa and Asia. Charity Navigator gives the IRF a four-star rating, the highest you can get, so you can be sure your donation will be used accordingly.

A second great charity with a four-star rating from the Charity Navitogar is the Rhino Recovery Fund (RRF) managed by the Wildlife Conservation Network. The RRF works to reduce habitat loss and protect rhinos from poachers.