One of the few remaining Javan rhinos was killed by poachers in Vietnam last month, it has been revealed; with fewer than 60 individuals remaining the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is the rarest of the five rhino species.
The dead rhino was found on April 29th, shot with its horn missing. This represents a massive loss for the Vietnamese sub-population, which is thought to number fewer than 8 rhinos. The Javan rhino is legally protected in Vietnam, but as horns are valued for use in traditional medicine poaching remains a threat.
In the past extensive habitat loss across Asia and poaching drove the global population to its current critical level, and now the population is so small the Javan rhino is extremely vulnerable to disease, natural disasters and problems caused by inbreeding.
The Javan rhino is Critically Endangered and is ranked the 11th most important mammal conservation priority worldwide, according to the EDGE method. This species is thought to have remained relatively unchanged for over one million years, and is one of the few surviving members of an ancient and formerly diverse group of ungulates (hoofed animals), along with tapirs and wild horses.
Formerly widespread in south-east Asia, this rhino is now confined to two widely separate locations; the Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, and a small population at the Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam, where this shooting took place.
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Mnyama mmoja wa aina ya Rhinoceros wa Java ameuawa na wawindaji haramu nchini Vietnam mwezi uliopita, na watu wa aina ya Rhinoceros sondaicus wanaishi katika eneo hilo. Panya huyo alipatikana akiwa amekufa Aprili 29, mwaka jana, akiwa amepigwa risasi na kupunguzwa pembe. Hii inawakilisha hasara kubwa kwa idadi ndogo ya Vietnam, ambayo inafikiriwa kuwa na idadi ndogo ya panya nane. Panya wa Java wanahifadhiwa kisheria nchini Vietnam, lakini kwa kuwa pembe zake zinathaminiwa kwa ajili ya matumizi katika dawa za kitamaduni, uwindaji haramu unabaki kuwa tisho. Katika siku za nyuma, kupoteza kwa makazi katika Asia na uwindaji haramu kulisababisha idadi ya wanyama duniani kufikia kiwango chake cha sasa, na sasa idadi ya wanyama ni ndogo sana, hivyo nyumbu wa Java ni hatari sana kwa magonjwa, misiba ya asili na matatizo yanayotokana na uzazi wa karibu. Panya wa Java ni hatari ya kutoweka na ni nafasi ya 11 muhimu zaidi ya uhifadhi wa mamalia duniani kote, kulingana na njia ya EDGE. Aina hii ya mnyama inaaminika kuwa haijabadilika kwa zaidi ya miaka milioni moja, na ni moja ya wanachama wachache walio hai wa kundi la kale na la zamani la wanyama wenye viuno (watu wenye viatu), pamoja na tapirs na farasi wa mwituni. Nyati hii ya aina ya Rhino ilikuwa ikiishi katika maeneo mawili tofauti, Ujung Kulon National Park huko Java na Cat Tien National Park huko Vietnam. Ili kuunga mkono juhudi za uhifadhi wa spishi zinazokabili hatari zaidi ulimwenguni, tafadhali toa hapa.