Social and Ecology Dimension of Villager to Disease Transmission Potency of Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park

Abstract

Javan rhinoceros is a one horned rhino that can only be found in Ujung Kulon National Park. Java rhino population is 47 individuals right now made this animal was categorizing as critically endangered. In the last three years, the mortality of javan rhino in UKNP reached 3 individuals. The deceased of javan rhinoceros need serious intention because of the mystery of causa mortem. Almost all carcasses still have horn and minor sign of poaching indicate that these carcasses are diseased. It was believed that might be it’s because of the regular herding of domestic ungulates in the rhinos habitat. This open sharing of habitat between rhinos and buffalo has the potential to disseminate infectious disease agents from domestic animals to Javan rhinoceroses The main aims of this study were to understand the potential of disease transmission happening in the park to propose possible solution to the problem. This study has two objectives that include the following: (1) to analysis the mechanism of disease transmission between buffalo and sympatric javan rhino through ectoparasites vector inventory in the Ujung Kulon National Park; (2) to analysis social and economic value of buffalo in the village surrounding national park. This study showed that, there were four mechanisms of disease transmission could be happen between buffalo and javan rhinos in the park. The role of buffalo as main source of economic income has been change at this moment. The analysis of social and economic value with discriminant analysis showed that education and ages (experience) have influence to change the villager vision to saw the role of social and economic and herd’s management of buffalo in the village. The conflicts of natural resources in conservation area should be solving with integrated management between national park and the villages surrounding it. Education could be good factor to change herd behavior from free to close ranging management. Finally, to resolve natural resources conflict need to change paradigm thought problem out of the box, law approach occasionally ineffective without social and ecology approach.