Green Options

Dung-sniffing dogs have confirmed that Javan rhinos are indeed still surviving in Vietnam.

The WWF survey of Vietnam’s Javan rhino population is off to a promising start: Two dung piles and recent footprints!

Thanks to rampant poaching and habitat destruction, rhinos have the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most endangered animals on earth.

Over the last 30 years, the world’s overall rhinoceros population has declined by over 90% - and if not for dedicated conservation efforts over the last 100 years, it is likely that all rhinoceros species would already be extinct.

To help raise awareness for these proud pachyderms, here are 11 incredible facts about rhinos - plus a compilation of beautiful photos (except for one very graphic photo) and a couple of videos, too. Enjoy!

A comprehensive survey to gather genetic data about the last Javan rhino population in Vietnam kicks off in November 2009.

WWF announced today that a comprehensive survey of Cat Tien’s Javan rhino population will begin next month and continue until April 2010. The purpose of the study is to gather urgently needed genetic data in order to develop a local conservation management strategy for these critically endangered mammals.

It is estimated that there no more than five individuals of this rare Javan rhino subspecies (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) still surviving in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park.

A recent study has revealed that the critically endangered Javan rhino faces even more threats than previously thought.

Today, only around 50 Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) remain inside Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park. And, according to the latest study by the Indonesian Rhino Foundation (YABI), now these rhino can add food shortages, water scarcity, and the effects of climate change to an already overwhelming list of threats facing this isolated population.

The last population of approximately 50 Javan Rhinos in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park is to be divided into two groups in hopes of encouraging them to breed.

There is just one population of about 50 Javan Rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus) still surviving in Ujung Kulon NP, and experts believe the numbers will increase if a second group of rhinos is established elsewhere. The new “crash” (a group of rhinos) will initially consist of three females and one male.

Having all of the [...]

Inside Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, a rare subspecies of the critically endangered Javan Rhino still survives. Once thought to be extinct, it is estimated that there are only 3 - 5 of these delicate creatures left in the world. The Cat Tien rhinos have endured ruthless slaughter for their horns and annihilation of their habitat. Now there is yet another threat to their tenuous chances of continued survival.

Plans to build a power plant at the edge of the rhinos’ habitat have been approved by the Lam Dong administration. The plant’s dam will be slightly less than two miles from the Javan Rhino reserve. An estimated 1,000 tons of explosives will be used for clearing forested areas near the reserve. Construction is expected to take three years. And even clean energy - such as wind turbines - can have adverse affects on surrounding wildlife (and humans), if not properly sited.