Two newborn Javan rhinos spotted on camera in Indonesian park

With the birth of two new Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) calves this year, the population of one of the world’s most endangered mammals continues to show signs of slow but stable growth, Indonesian officials announced on April 26. Following the death of an adult male this week, believed to be due to natural causes, the known global population of the critically endangered species now stands at 68 individuals. The newborn calves were spotted on camera traps in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park, home to the sole remaining population of Javan rhinos. Video from February shows two different mothers, affectionately known as Puri and Dewi, accompanied by their babies. The sex of the calves is still unknown, and they are yet to be named. “We were very excited about the births,” Mamat Rahmat, chief of the park, told reporters in Jakarta. “We hope the president and the [environment] minister could come and give them names.” A park ranger examines the male Javan rhino found dead on April 23. Image courtesy of the Ujung Kulon National Park Agency. Park officials also announced that park rangers found an adult male rhino dead on one of the park’s beaches on the morning of April 23. At present, officials believe the rhino, who was around 30 years old, died of natural causes. “There was no sign of the rhino consuming garbage, and there were no indications of bruising on its body or any forms of poaching,” Rahmat said. “At that age, it’s considered to be…

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