Evaluasi penggunaan video trap dalam inventarisasi Populasi Badak Jawa (Rhinoceros sondaicus Desmarest 1822) di Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon

Abstract

Javan rhino included in Criticaly endangered on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 category, so javan rhino needs to be priority of wild animal conservation to avoid the extinction. Many ways had been done to increase probability of meeting the javan rhino. Mainly the ways have done based on live observation, but because Javan rhino was a shy spesies so that the ways have failed. Therefore, other method supervision was tried, one of the method was video trap which the used still under monitoring until that time. Because of that, evaluation of video trap using to know the problems when its in charge and find the solutions was needed. Data was collected from 60 units of video trap which located on concentrated places of Javan rhino. Selection of video trap placement was based on stratified sampling method that divided concentration area of javan rhino into three stratums, that is high, lower, and medium density. The collected data consist of numbers of individu, track existence, number of recorded video trap and number of unfunction video trap which recorded the javan rhino, general condition of video trap site, and problems which happened during the inventory observation. Data processing compared recorded and unrecorded video trap with result of tracking observation and also condition of video trap sites. Data was described with descriptive method. Identification results showed six of javan rhino were recorded by the video trap. The less of number result caused by video trap and external factors of video trap. Result of data analysis indicated that recorded video trap just 8% and the rest was registered getting some problem from video trap or external factors so it couldn’t record amounts 92%. A number of 15% was video trap factor which consists of unrecorded video, dark screen, and recorded data was broken. The external factor was 77% which caused by database error, coordinate point error, fault in located the site, changes of site condition, short time video trap operation, and interfere of human activity which frightened the javan rhinos. Strengh of using video trap on inventory were simple and easy use, could collected more accurate data, not interfere observation object, and it could recorded the javan rhino behavior. The weakness of this method were video trap are vurnerable cause of robbing risk, possibility of learning process from javan rhino, and high cost. Overall, the video trap has good prospect to use on javan rhino inventory, in case the damaged and human error was minimal, and absolutely the video trap must placed on the right site.