REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PANDEGLANG -- The cause of death of Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) in March began to be investigated by a joint team consisted of TNUK officers, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) and WWF-Indonesia.
Representative of Rhino Monitoring Unit and Rhino Health Unit in TNUK, Muhiban said that the death cause was not yet exposed to public because they still waited for the complete result from the investigation.
"We also have to report first to Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA). The investigation has not finished yet," Muhiban said recently.
The death of Javan rhino occurred in 2012 and 2013 after bones were found at Cicadas river, Cikembangan block, TNUK. Bones and some organ samples were evacuated to IPB campus for further study.
Javan rhinos are estimated to be 23-26 years. The team found some difficulties as the weight body reached 1 ton. Therefore, they only took some organ samples, including insects and water near the location. There are 58 Javan rhinos in TNUK.