Highly endangered Javan rhinos welcome a new family member

There are just 81 left of the species, all of whom live in one national park

OCTOBER 6, 2023 09:45

An endangered recently born female Sumatran rhinoceros is seen next to her mother, Ratu, at Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary of Kambas National Park, Lampung, Indonesia September 30, 2023. (photo credit: ANTARA FOTO VIA REUTERS) — An endangered recently born female Sumatran rhinoceros is seen next to her mother, Ratu, at Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary of Kambas National Park, Lampung, Indonesia September 30, 2023.

(photo credit: ANTARA FOTO VIA REUTERS)

Javan rhinos, one of the world's most endangered species, have a new family member - a female calf believed to have been born in February, Indonesia's environment ministry said.

The calf was seen near her 12-year-old mother in Ujung Kulon National Park, a conservation area on the western tip of Java island, footage from the ministry showed.

There are just 81 Javan rhinos, including the calf, left and all are located in the park.

"The birth is a success for Indonesia in its efforts to conserve Javan rhinos," said Satyawan Pudyatmoko, a senior environment ministry official.

Javans are the most threatened of the rhinos

Javan rhinos, which are distinguished by their single horn, were once found throughout northeast India and Southeast Asia. Today, they are among the most threatened of the five rhino species, mainly due to poaching.

The mother, Kasih, has had three other children; Duba, Wira and Sekar. There was no mention of a name as yet for the new calf.

Last month, a Sumatran rhino - also highly endangered - was born in a sanctuary on Sumatra island.

A newborn female southern white rhinoceros calf, born August 14 and weighing 50 kilograms, walks next to its mother, Tanda, at the Safari Zoo in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel September 17, 2018. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

In 2021, a baby white rhinoceros was born in Israel's Ramat Gan Safari Park. The zoo named him "Ruvi," after then-outgoing President of Israel Reuven Rivlin.

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