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All BFR monies in excess of the funds provided to Lewa are used to support the Javan and Sumatran rhinos. This program has evolved over the years.
The two kinds of rhinoceros in south east Asia are the most endangered of the five surviving rhino species. There are fewer than 70 Javan rhino - about 50 in Ujung Kulon and another 2-7 in Cat Loc Vietnam. The Sumatran rhino is considered the most critically endangered species of rhino by the IUCN/SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG). Fewer than 300 are estimated to survive worldwide. Although not as rare as the Javan rhino, poaching pressure is more intense on the Sumatran rhino whose population declined at least 50% from 1990-1995. BFR supports three National Parks in Indonesia which protect the Javan and Sumatran Rhinos. If it had not been for the support from IRF, US Fish and Wildlife Service Tiger and Rhino Conservation Fund, WWF and AAZK over the past 10 years, the Sumatran and Javan rhinos would surely have perished. We must now look to the future to maintain and increase the populations to respectable sizes.
In 1994, BFR initiated its support of these South East Asian rhinos though the Minnesota Zoo and its Adopt a Park Program for Ujung Kulon, home to the main and probably only viable population of Javan rhino on earth. All these funds raised over the amount allocated for Lewa were provided to this program.
Because BFR was so successful and the program wants to help as many rhino species as possible, in 1996 the program expanded to assist Sumatran rhinos as well, through the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). IRF used these funds to support the anti-poaching teams known as Rhino Protection Units (RPUs). The operational cost for each RPU is currently $20,000/year. The RPUs are vital to the survival of Indonesia's and other wildlife.
At that time, in 1996, the most endangered population of Sumatran rhino was in Bukit Barisan Selatan (BBS) National Park in Sumatra. Hence, from 1998-2002, all funds raised by BFR in excess of what was needed for Lewa were equally divided between the Minnesota Zoo-Javan Rhino-Ujung Kulon Project and the IRF-Sumatran Rhino-BBS Project.
However, commencing in 2003, the IRF was able to secure a two-year grant from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) administered by Conservation International to completely cover costs of the BBS anti-poaching teams (6 concentrating on rhino and 2 on tiger although all 8 protect both species and other wildlife as well). Hence, IRF requested and AAZK approved that the funds for Sumatran rhino be used for Way Kambas National Park where the 3rd largest population of Sumatran rhino in the world live.
Also in 2003, the Minnesota Zoo Adopt a Park Program concluded that BFR was so successful that not all of the funds being provided for Javan rhino were necessary for this species in Ujung Kulon. However, the Minnesota Zoo is also the Center of the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program (STCP) that had formed a partnership with the IRF to support the anti-poaching teams in Way Kambas. Consequently, the Minnesota Zoo also requested and AAZK approved that some of the funds it receives from BFR be used to support the anti-poaching teams in Way Kambas.
There is now an Indonesian Rhino Conservation Program (IRCP) supported by IRF and partners like BFR and STCP. The IRCP includes all parks with rhino populations in Indonesia. This program coordinates funding so it is used on the highest priority needs in top priority locations to conserve wildlife. BFR is now part of this program. This allows the funding in any given year that goes through IRF as well as through the Minnesota Zoo to be allocated to these top priority locations. This allows BFR to expand the impact of its funding for maximum benefit of rhinos as well as tigers and other wildlife.
In the future, BFR funds will probably again be used partially in BBS since the current CEPF grant will conclude in 2005. However, both IRF and the Minnesota Zoo assure AAZK that funds provided by BFR will be used to respond to the most critical needs of Javan and Sumatran rhinos as determined by the IRCP, in consultation with the IRF, the Minnesota Zoo-STCP, and the BFR Coordinator.
Ujung Kulon is a 300 square mile National Park that is home to some of the rarest plants and animals on earth. It is one of the last remaining lowland rainforests in the world with hundreds of endangered plants and animals including the Javan rhino. The annual running cost of Ujung Kulon is roughly $100,000.
Since 1996, $253,410 has been sent to Ujung Kulon from AAZK's BFR events. These funds where used to purchase such items as a well, pump and water tower at the Karangranjang guard post, the completion of a new patrol boat, camera units for photo trapping census of the Javan rhino, installation and maintenance of the cameras, training staff for trapping census and preparation of photo inventory of field data, 32 hand-held radios, radar unit for night patrol boat and trained a "Rhino Patrol Unit" (RPU). These are very intensive, specially trained anti-poaching units of 5 men. These RPUS are the only proven method to effectively conserve these tropical forest rhinos.
1999-2001 funds were used for the operational costs for camera checking for census work on the Javan rhino at $21,000/year and to purchase a much needed high powered patrol boat in collaboration with Minnesota Conservation Officers and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There are currently 3 RPUs operating in Ujung Kulon. Future support will train and support the continued use of RPUs to protect wildlife, and pay for maintenance of existing buildings and equipment.
The photo-trapping census work in Ujung Kulon is now complete. 42 Javan rhinos have been individually identified including 4 calves. No poaching has occurred in Ujung Kulon over the last 4 years.
This Park is a 3,568 square kms protected area on the southwest side of the island of Sumatra. Asian elephant, tiger, clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, Indian wild dog, and a substantial number of the estimated 300 Sumatran rhinos live within this park. This Park likely has the 2nd largest population of Sumatran rhinos on the planet. BFR initiated its support of Sumatran rhinos with support for this park. From 1998 to 2002, $110,010.42 has been sent to Bukit Barisan from BFR funds.
These lowland rainforests of Sumatra are habitat for the endangered Sumatran rhino, elephant and tigers. They also have the highest plant diversity ever recorded- twice that of the Amazon Rain Forest. Despite this wealth of nature, Indonesia has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world and this trend is particularly intense on the island of Sumatra.
Way Kambas is a park of approximately 1,200 sqaure kms on the south east side of Sumatra. It likely has the 3rd largest population of Sumatran rhinos in the world and is a crucial nucleus for the survival and recovery of the species. There are also 150-200 wild elephants in this park. Currently, the best use of and greatest need for the BFR funds is to support the anti-poaching teams in Way Kambas. In 2003 and 2004, BFR provided funds through IRF and the STCP to support anti-poaching teams in Way Kambas.
For additional information on rhino conservation, see www.rhinos-irf.org or www.5tigers.org.
| Did You Know? (Rhino Facts) | |
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| ENDANGERED means there's still time...EXTINCTION is FOREVER! | |
If you have any comments or questions about this website, contact Patty Pearthree, Bowling For Rhinos Coordinator ppear3 at pear3.orgYou may call Patty (919) 678-0449 or via postal mail to 318 Montibello Dr., Cary, NC 27513 | |
| American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Administrative Offices 3601 SW 29th St., Suite 133 Topeka, KS 66614 (785) 273-1980 phone/fax |
For Technical Questions please contact Herbie Pearthree hpear3 at gmail.com |
