Help Save Javan Rhinos from Extinction

Dear Supporters,

Last September, I had the privilege of travelling to Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, the last place on Earth where the Javan Rhino still survives. With fewer than 80 individuals remaining, this is one of the most urgent conservation challenges of our time.

I joined a collaborative group of conservationists, local NGOs, and government representatives, meeting with the Head of Ujung Kulon National Park and Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry to understand both the challenges and the opportunities ahead. What stood out most was the shared commitment: protecting this species will only be possible through strong partnerships and coordinated action.

On the ground, the reality is stark. Rangers are working across a vast and difficult landscape with limited resources, facing threats from poaching, habitat pressure, and restricted access to real-time monitoring.

For the first time, Pelorus Foundation supported this effort by providing essential equipment directly to those protecting the rhinos, including boots, socks, and machetes for over 100 rangers and community volunteers, as well as mobile phones for ranger leaders to improve communication in remote areas. These are simple tools, but in a place where resources are scarce, they make a meaningful difference to daily protection efforts. They serve the crucial task of tackling the invasive Arenga palm which suffocates the Javan Rhino's natural food sources.

What gives us hope is that this collective work is already showing signs of impact. In 2025, multiple new calves were recorded in the park, reflecting the importance of sustained protection efforts. And just weeks ago, a newborn Javan Rhino calf was captured on camera with its mother, the first recorded birth of 2026.

This moment is incredibly powerful. It reminds us that when habitats are protected, when rangers are supported, and when organisations come together, recovery is possible, even for a species on the brink.

There is still so much to do. From strengthening ranger capacity to improving monitoring systems and securing the wider landscape, this is a long-term commitment. But standing in that forest, meeting the people behind this work, I felt something very clear:

Thanks to our local, community-based partnerships, this is a fight we can still win.

Thank you for being part of it,

Justine Williams, Head of Pelorus Foundation