Optimizing the habitat of the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park by reducing the invasive palm Arenga obtusifolia

Abstract

The dominance of the arenga palm had been identified as a potential limiting factor in the distribution of Javan rhinos because it prevented the growth of food plant species, thus created a nutrition-poor area in which rhinos roamed. Palm dominance was reduced in an area consisting of four 1-ha plots (assigned as plots A–D) that was selected on the basis of various ecological criteria such as number of palm trees (shading) and potential for connecting home ranges of several rhinos. The research was carried in two phases—palm control and monitoring—to study the impact of palm control on the growth of food plants and, consequently, on the area’s accessibility by rhinos. Palm control resulted in increasing abundance and diversity of food plants for rhinos, and increasing visitation by rhinos. Results from this research show that controlling palm and other invasive plant species can potentially be used to improve the Javan rhinoceros’s accessibility to certain areas within the habitat.