Javan Rhino
Rhinoceros sondaicus
Quick answer
The Javan rhinoceros is the rarest of all rhino species, with roughly 70 individuals surviving in a single national park on Java, Indonesia. Smaller than the Indian rhino at 900–2,300 kg (2,000–5,000 lb), it has a single horn and nearly hairless grey skin, and is Critically Endangered from historic hunting and tiny range.
Javan Rhino facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Rhinoceros sondaicus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore — shoots, twigs, fallen fruit, and leaves |
| Habitat | Dense tropical rainforest and tall grass in lowland Java |
| Lifespan | 30–45 years in the wild |
| Weight | 900–2,300 kg (2,000–5,000 lb); males larger |
| Top speed | Up to 30 km/h (19 mph) in short charge |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Genus | Rhinoceros |
Where it lives
Critically endangered remnant population in Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java, Indonesia — extinct in its former range across Southeast Asia, India, and Vietnam.
What is a group of javan rhinos called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Javan Rhinos is called a crash.
Baby name
A baby Javan Rhino is called a calf.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Last population on Java
All surviving Javan rhinos live in Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java — a peninsula isolated by the 1883 Krakatau eruption and tsunami. No Javan rhinos remain in their former range across Southeast Asia, Vietnam, or India.
Forest browser
Unlike grass-grazing white rhinos, Javan rhinos browse woody vegetation in dense rainforest, using a pointed upper lip to strip shoots and fallen fruit. They follow regular trails through undergrowth and wallow in mud to cool and deter insects.
Extreme rarity
With fewer than 80 individuals, the Javan rhino is the rarest large mammal on Earth. The last Javan rhino in Vietnam was poached in 2010. Every birth in Ujung Kulon is monitored by camera traps — the population is too small to survive a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
Recovery challenges
Plans to establish a second population on Java or elsewhere have progressed slowly due to habitat requirements, tsunami risk at Ujung Kulon, and the invasive Arenga palm crowding out rhino food plants. Anti-poaching success means natural threats now dominate.
Dig deeper into the Javan Rhino
- Are Javan Rhino Endangered
Dig deeper into javan rhino — are javan rhino endangered.
- How Long do Javan Rhino Live?
Dig deeper into javan rhino — how long do javan rhino live.
- Javan Rhino Facts 5
Dig deeper into javan rhino — javan rhino facts 5.
- What do Javan Rhino Eat
Dig deeper into javan rhino — what do javan rhino eat.
- Where do Javan Rhino Live?
Dig deeper into javan rhino — where do javan rhino live.
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Range & geography
Did you know? Javan Rhino facts
- The Javan rhinoceros is the rarest of all rhino species, with roughly 70 individuals surviving in a single national park on Java, Indonesia.
- Roughly 70–75 individuals, all in Ujung Kulon National Park on Java, Indonesia — the rarest rhino species and one of the rarest mammals on Earth.
- Javan rhinos are smaller, nearly hairless, and have a single horn. Indian (greater one-horned) rhinos are larger with armour-like skin folds and number over 4,000 in India and Nepal.
- Historic hunting for horn and habitat loss eliminated them across Asia. The entire species now depends on one small park vulnerable to tsunami, disease, and invasive plants.
- Usually one horn, rarely two — unlike African rhinos which typically have two horns (though black rhinos also have one primary horn).
- Conservation: Critically Endangered (IUCN).
Diet & feeding
Javan Rhino feeds primarily as a herbivore — shoots, twigs, fallen fruit, and leaves. Unlike grass-grazing white rhinos, Javan rhinos browse woody vegetation in dense rainforest, using a pointed upper lip to strip shoots and fallen fruit. They follow regular trails through undergrowth and wallow in mud to cool and dete
Adaptations
- All surviving Javan rhinos live in Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java — a peninsula isolated by the 1883 Krakatau eruption and tsunami. No Javan rhinos remain in their former range across Southeast Asia, Vietnam, or India.
- Unlike grass-grazing white rhinos, Javan rhinos browse woody vegetation in dense rainforest, using a pointed upper lip to strip shoots and fallen fruit. They follow regular trails through undergrowth and wallow in mud to cool and deter insects.
Behaviour & ecology
- All surviving Javan rhinos live in Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java — a peninsula isolated by the 1883 Krakatau eruption and tsunami. No Javan rhinos remain in their former range across Southeast Asia, Vietnam, or India.
- Unlike grass-grazing white rhinos, Javan rhinos browse woody vegetation in dense rainforest, using a pointed upper lip to strip shoots and fallen fruit. They follow regular trails through undergrowth and wallow in mud to cool and deter insects.
- With fewer than 80 individuals, the Javan rhino is the rarest large mammal on Earth. The last Javan rhino in Vietnam was poached in 2010. Every birth in Ujung Kulon is monitored by camera traps — the population is too small to survive a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
Communication
- Javan Rhino uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
- Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.
Habitat & range
Dense tropical rainforest and tall grass in lowland Java
Ecological role
Javan Rhino shapes vegetation through grazing or browsing and serves as prey for larger predators where ranges overlap.
Frequently asked questions about the Javan Rhino
How many Javan rhinos are left?
Roughly 70–75 individuals, all in Ujung Kulon National Park on Java, Indonesia — the rarest rhino species and one of the rarest mammals on Earth.
Javan rhino vs Indian rhino?
Javan rhinos are smaller, nearly hairless, and have a single horn. Indian (greater one-horned) rhinos are larger with armour-like skin folds and number over 4,000 in India and Nepal.
Why are Javan rhinos Critically Endangered?
Historic hunting for horn and habitat loss eliminated them across Asia. The entire species now depends on one small park vulnerable to tsunami, disease, and invasive plants.
Do Javan rhinos have two horns?
Usually one horn, rarely two — unlike African rhinos which typically have two horns (though black rhinos also have one primary horn).
Can you see Javan rhinos?
No public tourism is permitted — the population is too fragile. Researchers rely on camera traps and footprints for monitoring.
What is a group of javan rhinos called?
A group of Javan Rhinos is called a crash.
What is a baby javan rhino called?
A baby Javan Rhino is called a calf.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Javan Rhino:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Critically Endangered) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Rhinoceros sondaicus.
- IUCN Red List — Rhinoceros sondaicus.
Conservation status (Critically Endangered) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Rhinoceros sondaicus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
- Wikipedia — Javan Rhino.
General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).
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