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.
Key takeaway
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 overview
Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is a mammal listed here as Critically Endangered. Typical weight 900–2,300 kg (2,000–5,000 lb); males larger; lifespan around 30–45 years in the wild.
Javan Rhino ecology
Diet: Herbivore — shoots, twigs, fallen fruit, and leaves. Habitat: Dense tropical rainforest and tall grass in lowland Java. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures across the native range.
Javan Rhinos and people
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild javan rhinos are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Status and further reading
Conservation label in our guides: Critically Endangered. See the full Javan Rhino profile for taxonomy, FAQs, and related topic guides on this site.
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.
Sources
Javan Rhino FAQs
What are key facts about javan rhinos?
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.
What is the scientific name of the javan rhino?
Rhinoceros sondaicus — used in research and conservation listings for javan rhinos.
What do javan rhinos eat?
Javan Rhinos eat shoots, twigs, fallen fruit, and leaves, with seasonal and regional variation in Dense tropical rainforest and tall grass in lowland Java.
Where do javan rhinos live?
They are associated with Dense tropical rainforest and tall grass in lowland Java. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of javan rhinos?
Listed in our guides as Critically Endangered. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.