A Javan rhino named Desy has her fifth calf, caught on a camera trap in Ujung Kulon

A new Javan rhino calf has been recorded in Ujung Kulon National Park on the western tip of Java, Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry said on 2 November. A camera trap first captured the calf on 10 October at 21:35 local time; the park's monitoring team estimates it is 1 to 2 months old. The ministry did not give the calf's sex.

Desy’s fifth calf in 13 years

The mother is Desy, a female the ministry describes as productive. Her earlier calves are Arjuna (2013), Arum (2015), Hawa (2018) and Syauki (2024), which makes this her fifth. The ministry names a male called Musofa as the presumed father. Ardi Andono, head of the Ujung Kulon National Park office, said Desy was seen in very good condition and is experienced at raising young.

Every calf counts for a species under 100

The Javan rhino lives only in Ujung Kulon. In 2025, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, the ministry's director general for conservation, put the population at 87 to 100 animals and said “we are certain the number is under 100,” Antara reported. With so few animals, each surviving calf adds noticeably to the species' chances.

“Kami berkomitmen untuk terus memperkuat perlindungan.” (“We are committed to continuing to strengthen protection.”) — Mahfudz, Acting Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation

Watching from a distance

Mahfudz called the birth a gift and a source of hope for the world's rarest rhino. The ministry said protection will include work on the Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area (JRSCA), a managed habitat inside the park. Andono said the team will keep monitoring the area to keep mother and calf safe without disturbing them. The park's guards also have a new helper: Jasper, a Belgian Malinois who joined the anti-poaching dog unit.