Javan rhinos survive nearby volcanic eruption, but their one habitat remains a risk
A volcanic eruption near Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park left the world's entire wild Javan rhino population unharmed, but exposed how risky it is that they all live in one place.
Indonesia's critically endangered Javan rhinos have come through a volcanic eruption near their only remaining habitat unharmed, but the scare has renewed concern about how exposed the species is. Mount Anak Krakatau, roughly 50 kilometers from Ujung Kulon National Park, began erupting on September 4, blanketing the area in ash. Park officials say the rhinos "remained safe and still appear normal."
The entire wild population of Javan rhinos lives in one low-lying coastal park — estimates range from about 50 animals, per the IUCN, to 87-100 according to Indonesia's forestry ministry, though a 2023 investigation raised doubts about the higher figures. That concentration in a single location leaves the species vulnerable to a single disaster: a 2018 tsunami killed one rhino, and conservationists have long pushed to establish a second population elsewhere, without success so far — a previous candidate site, the Cikepuh wildlife reserve, was ruled unsuitable.
A recent attempt to move a rhino to a separate conservation area within the park also ended badly: the animal, named Musofa, died in November 2025 from a parasitic infection and other health problems.
Based on reporting by Basten Gokkon for Mongabay. Read the original: https://news.mongabay.com/2026/09/javan-rhinos-survive-eruption-in-indonesia-but-single-habitat-leaves-species-vulnerable/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
