Extraordinary journey to photograph the Javan Rhino

Wildlife photographer Stephen Belcher embarks on a precarious journey through the vast, almost impenetrable jungles of Indonesia to capture the first high-definition images of the critically endangered Javan rhino. With only around 35 of the iconic animals left in the world, his photographs could be our last glimpse of these elusive creatures.
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[@jasondsp]

I don't get why people started poaching this beautiful creatures, I mean it's the closest thing we can see a Triceratops in our era. -_-

[@whosyourdaddy4579]

So true...Living dinosaurs! Fantastic creatures!

[@keloid123]

My dick get hard if I snort it.

[@Randomname235]

I know right mans it’s name “rhinoceros” sounds like a dinosaur

[@LastBrigadiez]

I know why would they

[@Lucas-cf6kx]

@profit mah mad was a pdf file It doesn't work and should get forbidden...they only uses their beliefs to traffic wild life,sometimes illegally. A lot of species are getting extinct,as rhinos do,because of this market.

[@nancyhanson3472]

67 Javan rhinoceros live in Udjung Kulon National Park as of September 2022. There is still hope.

[@cooldinos8142]

Wait, has the number rose up as of now? Last time I read it was roughly around 75 individuals. I am currently doing a project on an endangered species, the Javan Rhinoceros, as I type this comment (But yes, there is still hope for these animals. One day I really want to see one when I can)

[@hanaoshimapiano]

There’s unfortunately a huge discrepancy between the Javan rhinoceros population reported by the Indonesian environment ministry and the camera trap recordings of the animal. In 2022 there were 34 Javan rhinos detected by camera traps but the Indonesian government announced the population as 77. Despite the camera detections decreasing in numbers since 2018, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has publicized figures suggesting the population is increasing. WWF-Indonesia has also confirmed that communities and partner organizations in the Ujung Kulon area have reported seeing poachers entering the coastal park from the sea since 2018.

[@saruscrane4953]

I really hope the Javan Rhino doesn't go extinct. It would be very sad. Good job on the footage. It's spectacular!

[@sushimayo9179]

Sarus Crane today, it had officially extinct

[@jmedean4752]

sorry to say...they gone

[@dimas0302]

At Malyasia, not indonesia. There's still some of them in Ujungkulon.

[@martinmartin5562]

Sarus Crane It is now

[@s0lyplaayz89]

It now has😔😖

[@alfredsupersauce]

I wish people could see that saving animals like the Javan Rhino is more important than whatever social or political conflicts that have people at each others throats. Just forget your differences and come together to protect the earth you live on.

[@kanazef]

as of 2016, the population increase to 63 rhino. i hope in the future more than 1000 rhino..so we can see this creature more in the future.

[@greatsaiyaman9744]

Sorry

[@OrangeUtan1]

They narrowly escaped extinction. If they were more spread out like the sumartran rhino then they would have a greater chance of coming back but they are all consentrated in one place

[@RoyalKnightish]

@@OrangeUtan1 It is kinda hard for that due to intense forest clearing in Java island. However researchers have been trying to find another area in Java island where they can be reintroduced.

[@sanctuaryaddict]

Aamiin

[@izzannamii]

76 now 2023

[@l.pmoonstone5067]

This made me cry! I cant even imagine how many of these gorgeous creatures have been slaughtered or starved to the point of near extinction ....

[@ayina111]

What a beautiful animal. We have to protect them.

[@LegendzComboApe1993]

Thanks for sharing for this great footage in high quality

[@louisholmes6961]

Gilles Delhaye do you want a future where museums are the only places where anyone can see rhinos?

[@imayuri33]

Their number might be fewer than Sumatran Rhino, but arguably, Javan Rhino have better security in Ujung Kulon compared to their Sumatran Relative.

[@austinkucharski7353]

I like Sumatran rhinos more.

[@putrakencana696]

Sumatran Rhino with red hair.. A shiny unique rhino..

[@rory5780]

Sumatran rhinos aren’t getting much help.

[@bosertheropode5443]

Plus they are concentrated in one area, so their gene pool is much more diverse. The sumatran rhino on the other hand is spread all over Sumatra, the sixth largest island on the world...

[@FathanTheAllo]

@@bosertheropode5443 *The 11th

[@sayarbanerjee1962]

Such a majestic creature!

[@fritsdehuisspin]

Nice little docu! And they are amazing animals to see and so incredibly fast too!

[@Buddha-2505]

There are so many heroes on this earth but the people like you are real heroes keep on.. God bless you

[@edtanio549]

Such an incredible encounter ... You guys are amazing

[@sarahyn7464]

now there are 67 rhinos in Ujung Kulon ❤️

[@ramadhantirtasaputra1898]

awesome footage, and amazing shot! I wish I could see this creature with my own eyes.

[@JohnnyD757]

Amazing makes me proud to be a Kiwi!

[@Khaatana]

That's so cool! Awesome footage.

[@ryanlicastro3041]

Keep up the fantastic work Stephen!!

[@jonehaesslich3163]

Incredible pictures and footage!!!

[@78664antonio]

Awesome! Thank you!!

[@JibHyourinmaru]

awesome channel! love from Malaysia

[@earthtouchtv]

Jib Hyourinmaru Thanks :-)

[@jodiel8723]

I really love them. They're just...wonderful creatures, and I think they're clever too. I hope with all of my heart that they can thrive in the forest forever. I can feel the wellness they experience relaxing in the water or mud.

[@lynnchelewski2965]

May God protect this magnificent species that He created. Exciting!

[@wildujungkulon3531]

Nice Animal ..we lovely the javan Rhino..

[@wisnubharata6708]

i love people like this

[@fickup9]

this is amazing project!!! :) i hope my govenrment watch it! greeting from indonesian student :)

[@thecutieandpandafam1650]

Your channel is really awesome love from South Korea

[@chuckbasher7845]

Amazing video. Tiny correction: Sumatran Rhinoceros' are actually the smallest (they're also hairy), Javan Rhinoceros' are the second or third smallest of the five species I believe

[@alexhjalt1476]

Great work!

[@stevebelcher667]

Normally I don't respond to opinions expressed on the internet but I feel in this case that I should address Pauli Hien's comment. As I have never met nor spoken to Herr Hien I'm more than a little surprised by his comments. I had many discussions both by phone and email with the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), The Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (YABI) and Ujung Kulong National Park (UKNP) headquarters for several months before I even left for Indonesia discussing the project and getting permission. If you watched the video from 1:12 -1:20 you will see that I visited both the Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (YABI) and the the Ujung Kulong National Park (UKNP) headquarters to discuss the location for the photography (what I wanted to achieve and how I planned to do it etc) and the camp site location. These meetings (there were 2 separate meetings) actually took several hours and the locations were discussed in detail (in fact, based on their advice the original location was changed to where I finally went to). Both the UKNP and YABI were very helpful and generous with their time and help. I was accompanied by both a National Park Ranger and a Rhino Protection Unit Ranger during my expedition. They can be seen in the video at these meetings. The exact location of the campsite was decided by them based on the most recent information they had, not by me, and was not determined to be on any rhino path. The area where the camp was set up was not worn, nor did it show any recent signs of use when the rangers and I arrived. Twice during the 6 weeks I was there I had UKNP ranger patrols pass through the campsite (as it was on the trail their campsite) and everyone was happy with the situation. What was interesting is that the evening before I left two rangers that were accompanying "a German TV Crew", (which they said was camped further along the coast) came to the campsite and said that they were looking to use the site when I left the next day and asked if I could give them a tent as one hadn't been supplied to them by expedition that they were part of (whether that was true or not I don't know). This is the only contact I had with any "German TV Crew", I can only assume that Herr Hien was part of that group as I never met them. When I left the site I removed all trace of the camp as was set out in the conditions of the National Park Permit. The most important thing is to preserve the environment of UKNP and to get the story about the Javan Rhino to as many people as possible and to help ensure its survival. I hope that Herr Hien was successful in capturing images of the Javan Rhino and that we will all be able to see them soon. Dr. Stephen Belcher

[@mfalcon6297]

Beautiful! Save the Javan Rhino!!!

[@TuanVu-dn3kp]

I really hope the Rhino Java doesn't go extinct It would be sad

[@robert-bv3fd]

Tuan Vu they now officially extinct ;(

[@robert-bv3fd]

😭😭😭😭😭 they are extinct

[@panurotomangkuwanito4728]

@@robert-bv3fd no, the population is still growing. Im Indonesian and I confirm it

[@nathanaels74]

@@robert-bv3fd in vietnam, but ujung kulon has 72 so yeah vietnamese javan rhino is extinct but javan rhino in ujung kulon still have some

[@muhammadidzhamrusmi5305]

Thats is vital for the java rhino survival . Thanks to him , java rhino have hope .

[@johnrobertmiller2407]

He actually caught two Javan Rhinos on footage at 4:19

[@stevebelcher667]

Hi John, that's correct. They were a mating couple. I encountered them around a bend in the river and didn't expect to see rhinos so close to my campsite. By the time I got the camera up they were disappearing into the jungle.

[@goodwinnick]

Beautiful pics and a very valuable documentary subject. Pity about the lack of Indonesian voices and the misspelling of the name of the national park in the opening titles.

[@ronnienagy1901]

Please Help And Save The Javan Rhinos Before It's To Late 🦏❤. There Are Maybe 70 Of Them Still Left.

[@shotguncheney2561]

Thank you for the upload

[@earthtouchtv]

Thanks for watching, Jay!

[@mstyiwashington]

Earth Touch all

[@aris3106]

Terima kasih

[@rezaakbar9953]

Terimakasih Indonesia

[@SagaTeVe]

Hi! we are writing you from Ecuador. We are a content platform in Ecuador, we are writing a story about the Javan Rhino so we can share it (english and spanish) through our social media to bring awareness of this endangered animal. Is it possible to use parts of this video (with the proper credit to you) for our story telling short video? Hope to hear from you soon. Kindest regards.

[@bestquotespeople]

WOW. Just like dinosour.

[@simsgazytech2013]

You can visit badakindonesia or taman nasional ujung kulon in instagram to know recent improvements of indonesian's rhinos ( both javan and sumatran's rhino)

[@forestdweller5581]

There was a Vietnamese Javan Rhino, extinct in 2010.

[@exitolaboral]

I don't understand how they failed.

[@spacedas915]

डेमममममममममममममममम 🤩🤩🤩

[@redsiberian]

A beautiful animal. We can help save it if we cut back on paper consumption and recycle.

[@yenyaoming]

My new favorite animal and its in danger dammmm

[@mobinbestintheworld9229]

Epic

[@rezaakbar9953]

Extraordinary Indonesia

[@arokumi5811]

Ive been there

[@stevebrockman6827]

Javan Rhino in the water he is cute

[@johnironmonger]

Stephen - a great and inspiring video. My wife Sue and I were lucky enough to see a Javan rhino and her calf on the Cigenter River in 2012 - an unforgettable experience. Here is our blog: notablebrain.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-indonesia-blog-part-one-looking-for.html

[@earthtouchtv]

Thanks for sharing, John!

[@nancyhanson3472]

That is fantastic! I am very envious. I really want to go to Indonesia to try and see one. You are very, very lucky! I used to be a zookeeper and I cared for greater one-horned rhinos. I have been to Nepal and have seen this species in the wild, plus I went on two Earthwatch expeditions to Zimbabwe to see black rhinos in the wild. Thank you for the link to your blog post about your encounter. I am going to print it off and save it. It is just so incredible that you saw two Javan rhinos! Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@Thatawesomefella]

2019, the population is currently at 58.

[@Thatawesomefella]

@@antoniopisani489 Best news ive heard all day.

[@rezaakbar9953]

Lestarikan Hewan Indonesia

[@MIrkif]

Very dedicated people. I admire them.

[@rezaakbar9953]

Indonesia Bagus

[@ninjatylerfortniteblevins2951]

there from my country

[@OliverTerp2001]

The Javan Rhino is the rarest species of rhino and the rarest large mammal if we don’t do anything soon the Javan Rhino will become extinct so you would give money to help them before they going extinct the Javan Tiger is extinct we need to protect the last remaining animals on the island of Java one top 3 favorite places in Indonesia the rarest moment to see a Javan Rhino is a full grown adult female with a calf with her is pretty rare indeed I would do anything before the Javan Rhino become extinct or I would be sad if that last animals in Java become extinct like the Javan Tiger did in 1980s

[@MultiEviscerator]

One wonders how they are doing 6 years later population wise. Also how do they determine the actual number if they are so elusive and rare is such a dense environment?

[@pinkpajamas9287]

Last march our government announced two baby javan rhinos was captured in traps camera

[@cheaptoebaythrifta5764]

don't just hope do!

[@daliborjovanovic510]

With less than 70 specimens left in the wild, no specimens in captivity and poachers still gung-ho about making a quick buck on rhino horns, we must face the inevitable. It's not a question of if these animals will go extinct but rather when they will be extinct, which, if we're being realistic, could very well be in our lifetime. I remember when I was a teen, I used to think that Javan rhinos still existed in one small area within Vietnam, only to learn, not too long ago, that they were actually declared extinct there in 2011. Between being large mammals, which naturally reproduce slowly, and never having been widely distributed, to begin with, both the Javan and the Sumatran rhino will soon follow in the footsteps of the thylacine.

[@pacoshuman7642]

How sad that this video isn't about the Rhino so much as the people in the video.

[@kimtate6796]

Sure wish I can see one in person? I don’t want them to become extinct, ever since the last one was killed in Vietnam!

[@shawreelol]

I hope they don't extinct please God help them to Spread again

[@stephenfromme8112]

Save this species

[@stevenpotter8585]

thank you 5:00

[@austinkucharski7353]

So unicorns do exist, but they may not anymore soon.

[@itookallthenames]

Stop saying they’re extinct they are NOT EXTINCT they are still in Ujung Kulon

[@maciefergal1675]

The population is now around 40.

[@DePeaceHunter]

as far as I know its 62 now

[@admjooge]

DePeaceHunter they're extinct now

[@sushimayo9179]

Theyre 0 now

[@dwidianaguspriyanto6343]

67 on indonesian national park, 10 born a year, and no died on 4 year.

[@arokumi5811]

Adam judge nope

[@jasminbarker1475]

Rip rino

[@rezaakbar9953]

#INDONESIA

[@DikiStromp]

Keren sedekat itu kereeen untuk 74 ekor badak di alam

[@rickstar6276]

If only the javan tiger was still there

[@thearizonarangerwiththebig3874]

there are less than 60 these now

[@lyd4712]

Now 67

[@nathanaels74]

Now 72

[@Buddha-2505]

Well done Stephen 👍if this wonderful animal is extinct, Indonesia must fully responsible 😨😰🥺

[@bushmonger950]

4:50

[@bushmonger950]

4:57

[@jaypratasik2687]

2:46 jeremy iron

[@MyYuwono]

thanks to the krakatoa erruption without it this pristine natural forest gone long time ago.but bad news for javan tiger they gone finally.

[@gavinstark8233]

Ummm zoo Miami Florida claims to have one I have ben there.

[@asherzerbib3461]

Javan Rhinos are semi-aquatic. Though to be fair, so is the Indian rhino to a lesser extent.

[@ben_jamin160]

awwww hehehe there cute

[@alfianprabowo48]

Now there are as many as 60 rhinos all in ujung kulon

[@rezaakbar9953]

Badak Indonesia

[@dakolson]

Do check out the International Rhino Foundation at www.rhinos.org if you have an interest in helping these amazing creatures! I have been a long supporter of this organization (and this project!!).

[@dannguyenz5577]

I Have to wipe it's about this its about Javan Rhinos Thanks It Really Helped Me

[@greatsaiyaman9744]

Rip to the Javan rhino

[@mylove-kv3kg]

ONCE THEY WERE IN INDIA ALSO.....EVEN WHERE NOW I LIVE(IT IS ALSO HOME OF INDIAN RHINO).......IS IT POSSIBLE TO RE INTRODUCE THEM AGAIN.....????????

[@paranormalgamer6054]

prateek choudhury Ofcourse man, they are one same subspecies so it is totally possible and with the natural course of time it will be undertaken by governments. But right now the priority is to increase the local population to a good amount of number so that populations can be spread to different parts of Indonesia. Once these populations are nicely spread out through the the islands of South East Asia only then will they be introduced back into to India,Myanmar,etc.

[@nathanaels74]

Yeah man, i heard there were 25000 all over south East Asia but it got reduced to 72 by habitat loss and poaching

[@vanityrae83]

the Tasmanian Tiger, the dodo bird, the passenger pigeon & many more animals were all killed off into extinction. I hope humans have a heart & leave nature alone. This lovely rhino doesn't need to be next. *Only 35 left in the entire world!* Jesus ppl!

[@elhamnaser5297]

Do you eat meat?

[@kokorodoki5704]

they have been endangered species since colonial era due to poaching and mt.krakatoa eruption

[@miquelescribanoivars5049]

LMFAO. People. Cross verify your sources, the Javan Rhinoceros was declared extinct in Malaysia, there's still a population in a very limited area of Indinesia and are still in a grave threat. But not extinct.

[@jasminbarker1475]

Mother Nature would be so disappointed

[@sushimayo9179]

For those who are not aware, as of today, Javan Rhino had officially extinct.

[@janshegers7667]

how do you mean? In vietnam but not in Indonesia?

[@pinkpajamas9287]

No its not

[@lyd4712]

No, it's not. In vietnam maybe but not in Ujung Kulon Indonesia

[@tumactijun]

Just so you know, you wrong

[@nathanaels74]

In ujung kulon there is 72 you can go see them for yourself in Indonesia if you dont believe me

[@varuno7560]

Habitat loss. What the f***. We can't even provide enough land for just 50-60 rhino. How shameless we 7 billion people are. We are really becoming curse to this Beautiful adorable and our Mother "Earth". I am just fed up. Great despair. What can I say more. Dollars and gold will never get them back.

[@rezaakbar9953]

#badakindonesia

[@Edster98]

Now it has be declared extinct. Tragic.

[@tumactijun]

Nope

[@erik_salman]

Reference?

[@emmyrosliana131]

@@erik_salman in india i think, so there is only 82 javan rhino in ujung kulon

[@hehe8948]

Save rhinos. 🦏☮️

[@tylerj2710]

i want to give you a little bit of money each month to buy seed of the local plant they eat so when you walk in in even with a two pound bag to see them agiain I know you will you can throw the seed as you go to spawn to something for them in the future they can eat.

[@tylerj2710]

tyntheky at g_mail

[@fajarsaputro805]

Come my home Mount Lawu

[@cdttomlinsontristan8218]

Some may be dying from tsunamis:(

[@edtanio549]

but they must have known the sign before tsunamis coming ... they've got acute hearing

[@cdttomlinsontristan8218]

@@edtanio549 that's true

[@fajarsaputro805]

Hello I Am from indonesia