Protecting the One-Horned Rhinoceros, Ujung Kulon Tourist Route is Closed

The tourist route for pedestrians on Ujung Kulon peninsula of Banten will be temporarily closed. The closure starts at November 1^st, 2023 until an undetermined time limit.

It is because the one-horned rhinoceros or Javan rhinoceros, which is very small in number, will extinct. The aim of closing this tourist route is to restore the ecosystem and protect their habitat.

Ujung Kulon National Park, which covers an area of 105,694.46 hectares, is the last habitat for the Javan rhinoceros. The head of Ujung Kulon National Park Office in his statement said that rhinos’ activity is rarely found on tourist routes and has moved to safer locations.

The Javan rhinoceros requires a certain home range to meet its needs. They like to move from one place to another. Rhinos have a habit of avoiding routes that might be passed by human being and have been used for their activities. They can even sense traces of human smells and sounds as well as traces of other activities.

After the closure from tourists, this area will only be used by researchers to limit more people activities in the one-horned rhino's natural habitat.

The closed tracking routes are the entire Ujung Kulon peninsula area and the routes of Cilintang - Karang Ranjang - Kalajetan - Legon Pakis route as well as the route of pilgrimage visits to Sanghyang Sirah which is only permitted via Bidur.

Meanwhile, some areas that are still open for tourism activities including Peucang Island (traveling and water tourism), Handeleum Islands (water tourism), Panaitan Island and Mount Honje.

Hopefully these efforts can maintain the Javan rhino's habitat.

1 SELENGKAPNYA