Javan rhino is extinct in Vietnam

Gill Saab

Yaar Malang
Hanoi, Oct 25 (IANS) The Javan rhino, one of the five species of endangered rhinoceroses worldwide, has become extinct in Vietnam, experts said Tuesday.

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced this based on a study of 22 dung samples collected during 2009-10 in the Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam, Xinhua reported.

The dung belonged to dead rhinoceroses found in the park in April 2010.

Tran Minh Hien, director of WWF Vietnam, said the extinction of the last Javan rhinoceros in the country was a loss to the world's natural heritage.

If protection is not improved, other rare animals in Vietnam will also face extinction, warned Nick Cox, manager of Protected Areas of the WWF-Greater Mekong Programme.

Four other species of rhinos are the Black and White rhinoceroses found in Africa, the Greater One-horned rhino in India and the Sumatran rhino.
 
Top