#2 - Javan Rhino

The Javan Rhino is one of the rarest large mammals on Earth, with only around 74 individuals remaining in a single population in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia. This prehistoric-looking creature is the most endangered of all rhino species and represents a living relic from the Pleistocene epoch. Smaller than its Indian rhino cousin, the Javan Rhino has distinctive skin folds that give it an armored appearance.

Javan Rhinos are solitary browsers that feed on a wide variety of plants, including shoots, twigs, young foliage, and fallen fruit. They play a crucial role in shaping their forest habitat by creating mud wallows and trails that other species use. These rhinos are generally peaceful and avoid human contact, spending much of their time wallowing in mud to cool off and protect their skin from insects.

The extreme rarity of Javan Rhinos makes them exceptionally vulnerable to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and genetic problems from inbreeding. Conservation efforts focus on protecting their last remaining habitat, monitoring the population through camera traps, and exploring possibilities for establishing a second population to reduce extinction risk. The species' survival represents one of the greatest conservation challenges of our time.