On the Ground in Ujung Kulon: Habitat study

For a better understanding of the rhino's home

This part of the project aimed to find out if the availability of rhino food plants and competition with banteng are the limiting factors for the rhinos' population growth. The research began in 2001, and was coordinated by Prof. Dr. Hadi S. Alikodra, a specialist of large mammals, who led a team of young biologists from Yayasan Mitra Rhino (Friend of the Rhino Foundation).

Potential scenarios...
The study, completed in 2002, showed that although food availability at that time was not yet a critical factor for the rhinos, langkap (Arenga obtusifolia), which shades out rhino food plants, was rapidly expanding. In addition, because banteng (a cattle species) are distributed across the home range of the rhino, space competition between both species potentially accounts for the rhino's poor breeding abilities.

... and solutions
To deal with the problem, the study recommended controlling the distribution of langkap, and drawing banteng out of the rhino home ranges by maintaining the existing grasslands used by banteng for grazing. The grassland management experimentation was conducted in 2003, and is ongoing.

Attempts to eradicate the langkap palm were carried out in 2003, and Dr. Alikodra and his team were commissioned again by WWF to continue testing the recommendations of the study. The first phase of the experiment was completed recently and came up with an effective way to eradicate the palm with no disturbance to the rhino. The park authority is now requesting to continue the experiment at a larger scale in the rhino habitat.