Javan Rhinoceros

Head and body reach about 3 metres, and this rhinoceros feeds by force: it leans on saplings until they bend or snap, then browses leaves from the fallen crown. Well over a hundred plant species have been recorded in its diet. The whole known population, only in the tens, lives in Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java.

• It once ranged widely across mainland South-east Asia as well as Sumatra and Java.
• The last known animal on the mainland was found dead in Vietnam in 2010, killed by poachers.
• Mud wallows are visited regularly, and the coating of mud helps protect the skin from heat and biting insects.
• Researchers tell individuals apart in camera-trap footage by horn shape, skin folds and scars.
• It is slightly smaller than the Indian rhinoceros, its closest living relative.

They are often crepuscular or nocturnal, using forest cover, wallows, and shade.

Habitat: lowland rainforest, swamp forest, and thick riverine thicket

Native range: Java, Indonesia

Leaves, shoots, twigs, fallen fruit, and young plants.

They are often crepuscular or nocturnal, using forest cover, wallows, and shade.

Lifespan has not been measured directly. It is usually estimated at roughly 30 to 40 years, and none are held in captivity to check against.

Females usually bear a single calf after a long gestation and keep it close in dense cover. Offspring show why softness matters: a giant mother must protect without exposing the calf.

Males have larger horns or more visible horn development, while females are usually less horned.

Rarity: Very rare · 99/100. Javan Rhinoceros depends on a narrow or fragile habitat base, so pressure on lowland rainforest, swamp forest, and thick riverine thicket can affect it quickly.

• Keep distance and let the animal choose the space.
• Avoid blocking movement routes, nesting areas, or feeding behavior.
• Use optics, patience, and quiet observation instead of crowding for a closer view.