TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Authorities set up fences in Ujung Kulon rivers to protect Javan rhinos
Poachers and hunters often pose as local residents to gain access to the park under the guise of activities such as honey harvesting, fishing, religious pilgrimages or visiting graves.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Javan rhinoceros. (Javan Rhino Expedition/David Herman Jaya)
A
uthorities have set up fences along the rivers around Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten after uncovering that poachers have been entering the protected peninsula through river mouths to hunt for the endangered Javan rhinoceroses and other rare species.
Ujung Kulon National Park Head Ardi Andono stated that the decision was made to prevent unauthorized visits to the sanctuary, which is one of the most crucial conservation areas in Indonesia, particularly for the protection of Javan rhinos.
He explained that poachers and hunters often pose as local residents to gain access to the park under the guise of activities such as honey harvesting, fishing, religious pilgrimages or visiting graves. According to statements from recently arrested hunters, they use the mouths of the Loh River to enter the park.
"The river fence construction demonstrates our commitment to preserving Ujung Kulon National Park, protecting its wildlife and ensuring the long-term survival of its natural ecosystems," Ardi told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He added that the fence was constructed using the trunks of Langkap plants, an evergreen, clump-forming palm native to Southeast Asia, which can grow up to 20 meters tall. Ardi explained that Langkap is a common invasive species in the national park, and the trunks are durable enough to withstand long periods submerged underwater.
He emphasized that the fence was specifically designed to prevent boats from passing through, without obstructing or harming the movement of animals in the rivers. Ardi also clarified that local fishermen would still be able to seek shelter along the beaches and river mouths of the Ujung Kulon Peninsula.
"Fisherfolk often seek shelter on the beaches and river mouths of the Ujung Kulon Peninsula during extreme weather and high waves. They will still be able to do so, as the fence was placed slightly farther from the river mouths," he said.
