Rare Javan rhino spotted taking mud bath

Posted by Anita Froneman on 2 July 2020

The critically endangered Javan rhino once lived throughout northeast India and Southeast Asia. Today, this species is found nowhere else in the world but the Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia.

There are currently only 72 of these rhinos left in the wild, reports Reuters. Vietnam’s last Javan rhino was poached in 2010, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

A rare moment was recently captured by hidden cameras in the Park, where a male Javan rhino estimated to be around seven years old was seen taken a luxurious mud bath and having a good old time.

The Javan rhino can reach up to 4m in length and 1.7m in height, and has a single horn of up to about 25cm.

Take a look at the rhino enjoying his bath in the muddy waters:

The video was first shared on Twitter by Indonesia’s Environment Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and has since gone viral.

Rhinos roll in mud to protect their skin from the sun, to cool off and to ward off parasites.

Also read:

Baby rhino takes first mud bath

Image credit: Screenshot






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