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Anak Krakatau: How a tsunami could wipe out the last Javan rhinos | Anak Krakatau: How a tsunami could wipe out the last Javan rhinos |
(35 minutes later) | |
Conservationists have warned that the entire species of the critically endangered Javan rhino could be wiped out if a tsunami were to strike again. | |
They once roamed the jungles of South East Asia and India, but today only 67 exist in the Ujung Kulon National Park, which was hit by last week's tsunami. | |
The park sits in the shadow of Anak Krakatau, the volcano which triggered waves that killed hundreds of people. | |
The volcano remains active and officials are now rushing to move them. | |
Two park officials were among the 430 killed by the tsunami, and numerous park uildings and ships were also destroyed when the tsunami hit last Saturday. | |
But the Javan rhinos left in the park - the only ones left in the world - were left unscathed. | |
The rhinos typically live along the park's south coast and this tsunami hit the north coast - many are keenly aware that the rhinos might not be so lucky if there is another disaster, | |
An entire species in danger | An entire species in danger |
The Javan rhinos are the most threatened of the five rhino species in the world - and have been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. | The Javan rhinos are the most threatened of the five rhino species in the world - and have been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. |
They were once found in northeast India and across South East Asia but their population was quickly depleted as a result of poaching, habitat destruction through agriculture, among other factors. | They were once found in northeast India and across South East Asia but their population was quickly depleted as a result of poaching, habitat destruction through agriculture, among other factors. |
According to the WWF, Vietnam's last Javan rhino was poached in 2010. | According to the WWF, Vietnam's last Javan rhino was poached in 2010. |
"As there are no Javan rhinos in captivity anywhere in the world, should we lose this population, we've essentially lost the entire species," said Nicola Loweth, a WWF officer in a statement about the rhinos in Indonesia. | "As there are no Javan rhinos in captivity anywhere in the world, should we lose this population, we've essentially lost the entire species," said Nicola Loweth, a WWF officer in a statement about the rhinos in Indonesia. |
The search for the perfect location | The search for the perfect location |
Anak Krakatau began showing increased signs of volcanic activity since June earlier this year. | Anak Krakatau began showing increased signs of volcanic activity since June earlier this year. |
But it was last Saturday that volcanic activity from Anak Krakatau is believed to have set off undersea landslides, triggering a tsunami that has killed at least 430 people so far. | But it was last Saturday that volcanic activity from Anak Krakatau is believed to have set off undersea landslides, triggering a tsunami that has killed at least 430 people so far. |
Authorities say Anak Krakatau is still active, and is in fact becoming increasingly active with what are known as Strombolian eruptions - short lived, explosive blasts of lava - being emitted. | Authorities say Anak Krakatau is still active, and is in fact becoming increasingly active with what are known as Strombolian eruptions - short lived, explosive blasts of lava - being emitted. |
"We understand that we cannot let the Javan rhinos live only in Ujung Julon," Widodo Sukohadi Ramono, chairman of the Rhino Foundation of Indonesian (YABI) told BBC News Indonesia. | "We understand that we cannot let the Javan rhinos live only in Ujung Julon," Widodo Sukohadi Ramono, chairman of the Rhino Foundation of Indonesian (YABI) told BBC News Indonesia. |
Mr Ramono added that there were plans in place to move a smaller group of rhinos to a secondary location, though there was "a lot [to be taken into] consideration". | Mr Ramono added that there were plans in place to move a smaller group of rhinos to a secondary location, though there was "a lot [to be taken into] consideration". |
The rhinos which would be moved would have to be in good health, have close ties to each other and able to reproduce. | The rhinos which would be moved would have to be in good health, have close ties to each other and able to reproduce. |
But moving the rhinos to another location is easier said than done. | But moving the rhinos to another location is easier said than done. |
The new location would have to have more than 200 species of plants - food sources for the Javan rhino. It would also need to have a plentiful water supply, an ideal soil type, land condition and a place with a year-round wet climate. | The new location would have to have more than 200 species of plants - food sources for the Javan rhino. It would also need to have a plentiful water supply, an ideal soil type, land condition and a place with a year-round wet climate. |
"It's difficult to find the perfect location... we need at least five thousand hectares in one location. It has to provide [the rhinos] with [suitable] food, water. We need to know what diseases exist there, if there are predators, how supportive the local community is," the head of TNUK, Mamat Rahmat told BBC News Indonesia. | "It's difficult to find the perfect location... we need at least five thousand hectares in one location. It has to provide [the rhinos] with [suitable] food, water. We need to know what diseases exist there, if there are predators, how supportive the local community is," the head of TNUK, Mamat Rahmat told BBC News Indonesia. |
Government officials have been looking for years to find a suitable second location for the Javan rhinos. They were supposed to have found one in 2017 - but this never materialised. | Government officials have been looking for years to find a suitable second location for the Javan rhinos. They were supposed to have found one in 2017 - but this never materialised. |
"Sometimes the plan [does not] work out," said Mr Mamat. "There are many obstacles, technical factors, internal constraints and external factors [to take into consideration]." | "Sometimes the plan [does not] work out," said Mr Mamat. "There are many obstacles, technical factors, internal constraints and external factors [to take into consideration]." |
Mr Mamat adds that the government has surveyed 10 possible locations, of which one has arisen as a suitable candidate - the Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve in West Java. | Mr Mamat adds that the government has surveyed 10 possible locations, of which one has arisen as a suitable candidate - the Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve in West Java. |
However, this was not without its problems. | However, this was not without its problems. |
"There is an agreement [there] with the army about the use of land for combat drills. We need to do further studies on how the [sound] of guns and cannons could [impact] the rhinos." | "There is an agreement [there] with the army about the use of land for combat drills. We need to do further studies on how the [sound] of guns and cannons could [impact] the rhinos." |
Human activity also exists around the wildlife reserve - which could put the rhinos at risk. | Human activity also exists around the wildlife reserve - which could put the rhinos at risk. |
The plan to move to the Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve appears to have stalled, but after the recent tsunami officials are once again moving with urgency. | The plan to move to the Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve appears to have stalled, but after the recent tsunami officials are once again moving with urgency. |
"We [will] take more steps quickly in preparing a second habitat [for the rhinos]," said Mr Mamat. | "We [will] take more steps quickly in preparing a second habitat [for the rhinos]," said Mr Mamat. |
"If one day Ujung Kulon is hit by an eruption, then [we would hope] there would still be reserves [of Javan rhinos] in a new place." | "If one day Ujung Kulon is hit by an eruption, then [we would hope] there would still be reserves [of Javan rhinos] in a new place." |
Reporting by BBC Indonesia's Rivan Dwiastono. You can read the story on BBC News Indonesia. | Reporting by BBC Indonesia's Rivan Dwiastono. You can read the story on BBC News Indonesia. |