Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- The population of Javanese and Sumatran rhinos is critically low, Head of Education and Human Resources Development of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Tachrir Fathoni said here on Thursday.
"The population of Sumatran rhinos declined by 50 percent in the last decade, from some 160 to only 80 rhinos currently," he added.
According to the ministry official, the drop in the population of rhinos can be attributed to hunting and trading of its horns, bones, and hide.
At present, most Sumatran rhinos can be found in four areas---Way Kambas in Lampung, Southern Bukit Barisan in West Sumatra, Mount Leuser in Aceh, and West Kutai in East Kalimantan.
Indonesia has two of the five species of rhinos in the world. They are the Javanese and Sumatran rhinos, of which the Javanese ones can be found only in Indonesia, Fathoni noted.
According to data, there are 57 Javanese rhinos currently, more than twice the number present in 1980 when there were only 25. "However, it is still a matter of concern as Javanese rhinos can be found only in Ujung Kulon in Banten province. There is a possibility of a decrease in the genetic quality," Fathoni pointed out.
He added that Javanese and Sumatran rhinos traveled the entire Southeast Asian region, but a recent report revealed that Malaysia and Vietnam lost these species.
The rhino conservation strategy in Indonesia focuses on creating conducive natural environments to ensure long lives for Javanese and Sumatran rhinos.
"Conserving these animals needs the participation of all stakeholders," Fathoni stressed, adding that this year, the government will establish one hundred units of conservation forest management to handle the 522 natural conservation sites and national parks.
"Not only rhinos, Sumatran tigers and other protected animals are also our concern," he affirmed. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015
"The population of Sumatran rhinos declined by 50 percent in the last decade, from some 160 to only 80 rhinos currently," he added.
According to the ministry official, the drop in the population of rhinos can be attributed to hunting and trading of its horns, bones, and hide.
At present, most Sumatran rhinos can be found in four areas---Way Kambas in Lampung, Southern Bukit Barisan in West Sumatra, Mount Leuser in Aceh, and West Kutai in East Kalimantan.
Indonesia has two of the five species of rhinos in the world. They are the Javanese and Sumatran rhinos, of which the Javanese ones can be found only in Indonesia, Fathoni noted.
According to data, there are 57 Javanese rhinos currently, more than twice the number present in 1980 when there were only 25. "However, it is still a matter of concern as Javanese rhinos can be found only in Ujung Kulon in Banten province. There is a possibility of a decrease in the genetic quality," Fathoni pointed out.
He added that Javanese and Sumatran rhinos traveled the entire Southeast Asian region, but a recent report revealed that Malaysia and Vietnam lost these species.
The rhino conservation strategy in Indonesia focuses on creating conducive natural environments to ensure long lives for Javanese and Sumatran rhinos.
"Conserving these animals needs the participation of all stakeholders," Fathoni stressed, adding that this year, the government will establish one hundred units of conservation forest management to handle the 522 natural conservation sites and national parks.
"Not only rhinos, Sumatran tigers and other protected animals are also our concern," he affirmed. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015