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Another rare Javan rhino calf spotted in national park in Banten
Iris, the third calf identified this year, was found after authorities deployed more than 100 camera traps across the national park in February.
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This handout image taken on March 27, 2021 and released by the Environment and Forestry Ministry on June 13, 2021 shows one of two rare Javan rhino calves that were caught on video in the Ujung Kulon National Park, raising hopes for the longer-term survival of the endangered species. (AFP/Handout/Environment and Forestry Ministry)
A new Javan rhino calf has been spotted in a national park in Banten, the facility's head said on Friday, further boosting hopes for one of the world's most endangered mammals after two other sightings this year.
The female calf, believed to be between three and five months old, was spotted in camera trap footage taken in May at Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten, a find only made public on Thursday by the Environment and Forestry Ministry.
The mammal named Iris was seen walking with her mother, said Ardi Andono, head of the national park.
"This is positive news for the wider community that the Javan rhino is still sustainable," Ardi told AFP on Friday.
The park official said Iris, the third calf identified this year, was found after authorities deployed more than 100 camera traps across the national park in February.
"We always use the assumption that every location has the same potential [...] to obtain the rhinos' photos," Ardi said.
He added two more calves were spotted earlier this year at the park, which is the only habitat left for the critically endangered animal.
After years of population decline, authorities believe there are 82 Javan rhinos left inside the 120,000-hectare sanctuary of lush rainforest and freshwater streams.
The rhinos, which have folds of loose skin giving them the appearance of wearing armor plating, once numbered in the thousands across Southeast Asia but have been hard hit by rampant poaching and human encroachment.
Activists have disputed official figures after authorities recently uncovered a poaching gang that claimed to have killed 26 rhinos since 2018.
