Happy World Rhino Day!!!!! This year marks the bicentennial of the Javan Rhino. First described by Anselme Desmarest in 1822 from a specimen originating from Java sent to France's National Museum of Natural History by Alfred Duvaucel and Pierre Medard Diard this species was once the most populous in Asia ranging from India to Indonesia. However, over the ensuing two centuries it suffered catastrophic losses due to hunting, poaching and habitat loss. Regarded as an agricultural pest due to much larger numbers over two centuries ago, between 1747 & 1749 over 500 rhinos were killed via bounty to protect crops. Over time hunting and habitat loss took its toll. The last known mainland Javan Rhino was a female of the annamiticus subspecies poached in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park. Overall there were originally 3 subspecies of this incredible rhino. Now only one remains, the nominate subspecies known as the Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros, the largest on average with a possible chance at population recovery. The classification goes as follows: Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus, the Indonesian Javan Rhinoceros, Desmarest 1822 – 76 individuals left This subspecies is the largest known in size standing up to 5'10" and can weight up to 5,000 lbs. It's range occured throughout Indonesia with a former population on Sumatra. It is now confined to the western tip of Java in Ujung Kulon National Park. Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis, the Indian Javan Rhinoceros, Lesson 1838 – Extinct, 1925? This subspecies ranged from Assam India to Bangladesh. The area of which most accounts cite localities from center around the Sundarbans region. Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus, the Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros, Heude 1892 – Extinct, 2010 This subspecies ranged throughout mainland Southeast Asia & Malaysia. It's favored habitat ranged from floodplains and forests. Studies of its footprints indicated it averaged about 75-80% the size of the Indonesian subspecies. Images by Ricardo Nunez Suarez
In terms of captivity the Javan Rhino was barely kept unlike its larger cousin. L.C. Rookmaker chronicles the number in his book The Rhinoceros In Captivity. Of the several, only two collections were able to photograph the individuals kept, both males. London kept an individual from March 7th 1874 to January 23rd 1885. The zoo paid 800 British Pounds for it. Source Photo by @Joker1706 Source The other photographed individual lived at Adelaide Zoo from for 66 British Pounds. It arrived on April 12, 1886 and lived until 1907. Upon it's death it was discovered to be a Javan Rhino. In it's life it was exhibited as an Indian Rhino. It can now be viewed at the South Australian Museum. Source Source This individual is from a facility in Asia, likely Alipore Zoo. These photos probably date from the turn of the century. Source Source
If you want to see a live Javan Rhino you'll have to travel to Ujung Kulon National Park where maybe with a 5% chance you'll see one. If you can't make it there there are several museums which have one on display. I've been very lucky to have seen the specimens in Harvard and London. I'm attaching photos here of the various specimens: USA Massachusetts - Juvenile mounted by Henry Augustus Ward in 1880 in the Harvard Museum of Natural History My photo Europe London, UK - Adult female collected by Arthur S. Vernay in Perak, Malaysia in January 1932 in the Natural History Museum Source Photo by @Justanotherzoovisitor Tring UK - Adult male head mount in Tring Museum Source Canterbury, UK - Juvenile mount in Canterbury Museum Source Germany - Mother and calf of inermis subspecies in mammal collections (behind the scenes) of the Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Perhaps a curator can let you view it if you them contact in advance??? Source Source Austria - Juvenile mounted in 1801 in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien Photo by @twilighter Javan Rhinoceros (NHMW-Zoo-MAMM 8198/ST319) - Download Free 3D model by Natural History Museum Vienna - Sketchfab Switzerland - Full body replica? in Zurich's Zoological Museum Source Asia India - Juvenile mount in Kolkata Museum Source Indonesia Java - Full male mount in Bogor Zoological Museum collected in 1934 Source Source
