 Reference Base  The conservation of the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sond... |
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Nardelli, F., 1987. The conservation of the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus Desm.): a proposal. Rimba Indonesia 21 (1): 64-66
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World |
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Management - Programs |
| Species: |
Javan Rhino |
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Prof. Schenkel [1982] has made some excellent recommendations on future management aimed at avoiding a recurrence of this tragedy with disease. In summary, these are :
careful monitoring and censussing of the rhino both during the dry and wet seasons
drafting of a detailed vegetation map of the area paying special attention to the rhino's foodplants
deliberate vegetation management so as to encourage growth of the rhino's preferred foodplant environment - open unshaded areas with saplings and bushes etc. This would mean the cutting back of certain palms etc.
control of the banteng population, only if further studies prove the animal is in competition with the rhino
translocation of about 10 rhino to a second location, perhaps in southern Sumatra, to start a second viable population- This is only to be embarked upon when the Ujung Kulon population has recovered from the effects of the 1982 disease and begun to reproduce again.
The new site to be selected with maximum care, bearing in mind foodplant availability, fresh water, clay soil wallows, salt licks, existence of predators and other species now unfamiliar to the rhino, such as tigers and elephants, the ease with which the new site can be patrolled and protected, the attitude of the people living in or near the area.
Another major factor to be tackled, in Prof. Schenkel's view was working conditions for the Indonesian rangers and guards assigned to protect the rhino. He felt they needed field allowances to enhance their salaries, better clothing and equipment, better medical care and better training, for example on how to collect blood and tissue samples during any emergency'like the 1982 epidemic.
I heartily concur with Prof. Schenkel's diagnosis and prescription in all except one important respect: he emphasised translocation before any attempt at captive breeding, and indeed was generally opposed to captive breeding, partly because of the fragility of the species and partly because he felt the primary need was simultaneously to conserve the rhino and its natural habitat. I suggest that the situation is too critical to wait, that capture and captive breeding should commence as soon as feasible, applying the lessons already learned in the current Sumatran Rhinoceros Capturo Operation.
This does not mean that Prof. Schenkel's proposals should not be implemented at Ujung Kulon - indeed they should. But the capture operation should be accorded urgent priority. My views on the virtues of captive breeding as against natural gene-pool arrangements and the like are laid out in my accompanying paper on the Sumatran rhino operation: Captive breeding is far safer than natural gene-pool arrangements etc, from the point of view of monitoring disease, poaching and territorial competition, amongst other likely problems. Captive breeding also allows closer observation so that valuable data on the animals'.habits can be gathered for application to better management of populations still in the wild.
Translocation is too risky and difficult a venture, as well as costly funding might prove a problem. However, it could be integrated into a conservation project as a second stage to follow only after a captive nucleus has been safely established and funds made available to local agencies in Indonesia. As with the Sumatran rhino operation, transfer of both tech- nology and funds to the host country, Indonesia, would be an integral part of the conservation plan.
I propose therefore that an operation to capture some Javan rhino for captive breeding be instituted as soon as possible. I suggest that the capture operation be concentrated along the eastern fringes. of the Ujung Kulon National Park, where poachers and disease are a more likely threat to the animals, thus leaving the core area's population as undisturbed as possible. Experience with the Sumatran rhino operation so far should have given us the confidence and courage to proceed with this venture, which I now consider to be of the highest importance to the survival of the species.
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