Ujung Kulon

Ujung Kulon National Park protects 122,956 hectares of lowland rainforest and volcanic landscapes on Java's extreme western tip, serving as the last refuge for the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros with only about 75 individuals surviving in this single location. The park's isolation on a remote peninsula, created by the catastrophic Krakatoa eruption of 1883 that buried settlements and cleared forests, has allowed ecosystems to regenerate while remaining relatively undisturbed by Java's dense human population. Beyond the Javan rhino, the park supports significant populations of banteng (wild cattle), leopards, and primates in forests ranging from coastal mangroves to montane vegetation. The volcanic islands of Krakatoa lie within park boundaries, offering opportunities to observe ongoing ecological succession following the famous eruption. UNESCO recognized the park as a World Heritage Site in 1991, acknowledging its critical importance for Javan rhino conservation and intact lowland rainforest increasingly rare in densely populated Java. Established in 1992, the park represents one of Southeast Asia's most important conservation areas for large mammal protection.

The peninsula was historically inhabited and cultivated, but the 1883 Krakatoa eruption's tsunami devastated coastal settlements, with subsequent forest regeneration creating the wilderness that exists today. The area was designated a nature reserve in 1921 specifically to protect the Javan rhinoceros, already recognized as critically endangered with populations collapsing across Java and Southeast Asia. Ujung Kulon became the species' final stronghold after populations elsewhere were extirpated by hunting and habitat loss, with intensive protection allowing the small population to stabilize. National park status in 1992 strengthened protections and integrated surrounding marine areas into the conservation framework. The park has been spared the agricultural conversion that consumed most of Java's forests due to its isolation and difficult access, making it an increasingly valuable biodiversity refuge. Recent conservation history has focused on intensive rhino monitoring and the challenging question of whether to establish a second population elsewhere to reduce extinction risk from disease or natural disaster.

Access to Ujung Kulon requires significant travel commitment, starting with a journey to Labuan or Tamanjaya on Java's west coast, followed by boat transfers to the peninsula requiring several hours. Visitor facilities are minimal, with basic guesthouses at Peucang Island offering the most developed accommodations within park boundaries, along with camping at designated sites. Javan rhino viewing is not permitted to minimize disturbance to the critically endangered population, though camera trap footage shown at park facilities provides glimpses of these rarely seen animals. Wildlife observation focuses on more common species including banteng, various primates, and abundant birdlife, with guided forest treks and coastal exploration opportunities. Krakatoa island visits can be arranged as day trips from Peucang, observing volcanic activity and ecological succession on the islands that emerged from the 1883 eruption. The dry season from April to October offers the best access conditions, with calmer seas for boat transfers and lower rainfall for forest trekking, though the park can be visited year-round.

Javan rhinoceros conservation represents the park's highest priority, with intensive monitoring using camera traps, dung analysis, and footprint tracking to assess population trends and health. The critical question of establishing a second population to reduce extinction risk from disease or natural disaster has been debated for years, with challenges including limited suitable habitat and risks of translocation. Habitat management includes controlling invasive langkap palm that forms dense thickets unsuitable for rhinos, with removal programs maintaining the open forest structure these browsers require. Anti-poaching patrols remain essential despite Indonesia's rhino horn trade ban, with constant vigilance needed to protect the last few dozen animals from potential poachers. Banteng conservation benefits from protection for rhinos, with this wild cattle species also threatened across its range but maintaining a strong population in Ujung Kulon. Climate change and sea level rise pose long-term threats to this low-lying peninsula, with concerns about how the confined rhino population could adapt if habitat is lost to coastal erosion or storm surge.