Spatial modeling for assessing extended potential habitat of Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

A spatial model predicts that 60.66% (29,173.8 hectares) of Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP), the sole habitat for the critically endangered Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), could support suitable habitat conditions, with fragmentation occurring in Mount Honje due to slope and forage availability constraints. The model, developed using MaxEnt software with field observations and camera trap data from 2017–2018, identified slope, potential forage, NDVI, distance from streams, and flow accumulation as key variables, with slope being the most significant predictor. Rhinos were found to prefer lowland areas with dense vegetation, particularly rumpang grasslands and shrubs, where forage is abundant. This study provides a baseline for monitoring and conservation efforts, offering critical insights for maintaining rhino populations within UKNP's extended potential habitat.

Latifiana, K., Giri, P. W., Firdaus, A. Y., Muhiban, & Anggodo. (2020). Spatial modeling for assessing extended potential habitat of Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia. THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE ICBS 2019: “Biodiversity as a Cornerstone for Embracing Future Humanity”, 2260, 20015. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0015931