On the Ground in Ujung Kulon: Patrols

Close watch on the rhino's stamping ground

Land patrols

Rhino Monitoring Patrol Units (RMPUs), supported by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and WWF, usually consist of 4-6 persons engaged mainly in anti-poaching activities and in community outreach work. They patrol the forest to eliminate snares/traps and to arrest suspected poachers.

RMPUs coordinate closely with National Park staff and focus on anti-poaching in rhino core areas. These units were formed because Park staff do not have the means to concentrate on the intensive patrols and intelligence work required to protect the rhinos.

RMPUs combine government rangers and more autonomous staff, a measure which is more effective. Where RMPUs are operating in Indonesia, there has been a noticeable decrease in rhino poaching.

Coastal patrols

In Ujung Kulon, threats are just as likely to come from the sea as from the land. Consequently, coastal patrols were put in place, and have been operating since January 2001. Their continued existence is vital to maintain minimal disturbance in the Javan rhinoceros' habitat. 

Coastal patrols are intended to complement the land patrols. Not only do they protect the Park from poachers, but also from illegal fishers within the Park's boundaries. In fact, terrestrial landscape constitutes only 60% of the Park. Funding comes in from a private entity but is insufficient to allow for the patrolling of the entire Park area.

Awriya Ibrahim, the Park's Director, states that if he had an additional US$ 100,000, his first priority would be to finance marine patrols. In 2004, the budget only allowed to patrol 20% of the Park's 44,000 hectare marine area.

The objectives of this activity are to:

1. Secure rhino habitat from intruders entering the Ujung Kulon Peninsular area from the sea (primary objectives).
   Intensive coastal patrol along the northern coast of the Peninsular will deter the intruders to land. The Peninsular area will be fully protected by the three on-land patrol units, made possible by the IRF (International Rhino Foundation)/ WWF support, and the coastal patrol units.
   
   
2. Halt damages to the Ujung Kulon coral reef (secondary objectives).
   Once the dynamite fishing and poison fishing are curbed, the coral reef is expected to recover.