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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Indonesia - Sumatra |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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In the past incidental records of Sumatran Rhino were documented throughout the park. The Park has a very difficult shape with about 700 km of artificial boundaries extending through mountainous terrain, and with densely populated areas all around. All along the boundaries incursions into the park, for logging and agriculture, have reduced the area of undisturbed habitat. Two public roads extend through the park from east to west. In recent years the Park Management has been able to stop most incursions and to remove illegal settlers from the Park, but the remaining prime rhino habitat, especially in the southern two-third of the Park in Lampung province, is fragmented and reduced to narrow strips in the higher parts of the mountains. The stronghold of the Sumatran Rhino is in the tip of the peninsula along the Blambangan (or Belambang on older maps) River. Surveys by the Park staff estimated 10 rhinos in 1987 and 13 to 18 in 1990. There are no indications of poaching in this area, and the current development of a large ecotourism facility nearby, is expected to provide additional protection for this rhino population. Rhinos still survive in other parts of the National Park, but there are no recent estimates of numbers. In 1993 a cast of a Sumatran rhino footprint (identified by Nico van Strien) was collected 5 km east of Krui by Tulus Sibuea of Padjajaran University, conducting an agricultural survey in the area. Another potential Sumatran rhino area is the northern-most part of the Park, in Bengkulu province. This part of the Park appears to be rather undisturbed when viewed from the air, and would be ideal habitat for Sumatran Rhino. Rhino are known to survive in the mountains further north (Gunung Patah and Bukit Hitam). A ground survey of this area has never been conducted and there is virtually no Park staff present. The GEF Rhino Project will establish rhino protection units in Barisan Selatan to prevent poaching.
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