The Most Endangered Rhino in the World

In the dense rainforests of Western Java, a creature of almost mythic rarity moves silently through the undergrowth. A gentle giant that represents one of conservation's most desperate stories, and potentially one of its most tragic endings.

Javan Rhinos are the most critically endangered rhino species, with fewer than 80 left in just one national park. They have become so scarce that that even the park's rangers rarely glimpse them in the flesh.

We must act before they vanish.

That is why Pelorus Foundation has partnered with a local, community-based organisation at the heart of the National Ujung Kulon Park, refuge to the last Javan Rhinos on Earth.

Protecting a species on the brink of Extinction

Unlike their African relatives, the Javan Rhino's modest horn hasn't saved it from mankind's destructive reach. A species that once roamed from the Indian subcontinent to Indonesia's scattered islands now clings to existence in a single, vulnerable pocket of rainforest.

In Ujung Kulon Park, this species faces severe threats that jeopardise its survival. Poaching remains a constant danger, while Arenga palms degrade and shrink their habitat. Lack of resources, ranger training, and deployment, alongside low community engagement has led to limited population monitoring, hampering protection efforts.

The fragility of their situation was laid bare last June when Indonesian authorities revealed the devastating news that poaching syndicates had killed 26 Javan rhinos between 2019 and 2023, potentially wiping out a third of the global population.

These combined challenges threaten the already critically low population and risk the collapse of the delicate ecosystem they help sustain. Anti-poaching patrols and real-time camera trap monitoring compound the efforts to safeguard the world's last Javan Rhinos from illegal hunting, but they are not enough on their own.

Restoring native vegetation is essential to provide adequate food for the Javan rhino, and training local guardians will significantly improve the effectiveness of conservation and population monitoring.

Supporting rangers will empower local communities to create safe wildlife corridors and develop sustainable livelihoods, both key to securing the Javan rhino’s future and strengthening the ecosystem of Ujung Kulon National Park. One of our main goals is to establish an operations base for the local teams, which will enhance ongoing efforts in habitat restoration, monitoring, and conservation, particularly in remote areas.

This base will also serve as a hub to train and equip community-based field teams, offering income opportunities linked directly to conservation, ensuring long-term stewardship and resilience.

This species is vital in boosting biodiversity through feeding, seed dispersal, and wallows. To protect them from poaching, habitat loss, disease, and low genetic diversity, tracking each calf counts.

GPS tracking, camera monitoring, and specially trained anti-poaching rangers will help protect the rhinos. Empowering ranger patrols and the local community will ensure safe corridors for the rhinos and sustainable livelihoods for the community. Removing invasive Arenga Palms and reviving native grazing areas will help restore vital Javan Rhino habitat. This all helps to secure a future for the Javan Rhino and strengthening the ecosystem in Ujung Kulon National Park. With fewer than five calves born each year and no Javan Rhinos in captivity, every effort matters.

"Most people assume poaching of this species is consigned to history. But it's a constant fear. Losing even one rhino is devastating to the population."

Dewa Surya, Wildlife Ranger in Ujung Kulon National Park.

"Each individual rhino matters enormously, and every birth represents genuine hope. But we're operating in perpetual crisis mode. The population remains too vulnerable to relax our guard for even a moment."

Nina Dewi, Jarkarta-based conservation scientist.

Losing the Javan rhino would not only mean the extinction of a unique and ancient creature, but also a disruption to the delicate balance of biodiversity in its habitat. Protecting this species is a symbol of our commitment to preserving wildlife and wild places for future generations, through human effort: rangers trudging miles daily through treacherous terrain, volunteers mapping animal movements, and donors funding the unglamorous yet vital work of conservation.

This is where collective action becomes fundamental. Together, we will help restore vital Javan Rhino habitat by supporting the people at the forefront of this conservation challenge.

Be a part of the effort to protect a species on the brink of extinction.

Your Help Matters to Save the Javan Rhino from Extinction

Your generous support is fundamental to the continuation and ongoing success of this project. Together, we can protect this unique species and its habitat for future generations.

Donate Today to Protect Javan Rhinos