Ujung Kulon has a vast array of wildlife, quite a number of which are endangered or rare.they others are sighted almost every day, many are heard rather than seen, and some are rarely seen.
Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Sondaicus)
The most precious of all the animals in the parks is the Java one-horned rhinoceros, the rarest large animal on earth. Once found across much of south east Asia, the first accounts of the Java rhino date back to China’s T’ang cigenter riverdynasty (A.D. 618-906) when Java was noted as a source for rhino horns. In Java during the 1700’s rhinos were so numerous and damaging to the agricultural plantations that the government paid a bounty for every rhino killed, bagging five hundred within two years. Ujung Kulon’s rhino population is now estimated at around fifty individuals and they were believed to be the last remaining Javan rhino in the world until a small population was recently discovered in Vietnam. However, these are so few in numbers that their viability is unlikely and so Ujung Kulon remains the last home of this magnificent pachyderm. In appearance the Javan rhino is closest to the Indian rhino, both having a single-horn and skin folds or plates but there are distinct differences between their neck plates and skin textures. The Javan rhino also has a long prehensile upper lip which extends below the lower allowing it to grasp foliage. The body shape of the Javan rhino is designed to push aside the undergrowth and only the male Javan rhino has a prominent horn while the female has a lump similar to a halved coconut. Earlier this century Javan rhinos were measures as being over 170 cm. At the shoulders, more than 3 metres in length and 2,200 kg. In body weight but a recent photographic survey indicates that the largest rhino in Ujung Kulon may be around 150 cm. in height. Rhinos range over a maximum distance of 15 to 20 kilometres a day in the densely forested lowlands of the Ujung Kulon Peninsula and to the east of its isthmus. They are most mobile at nights, like wallowing in mud pools and sometimes venture onto beaches and grazing grounds. Although actual sightings of rhinos are rare, their prrints and droppings are often found on the trails, sometimes unnervingly fresh. Javan rhinos are believed to be capable of running as fast as a person and so advice to visitors, should they happen to come across one, is to climb the nearest tree and take a photo – in that order.
Deer
Far more obvious animals in the park are the Javan rusaa deer that freely graze arround the tourist lodges. These are the largest of the three deer species in Ujung Kulon. The rusa stags are at their most magnificent in the mating season around August to September when the antlers have shed their velvet and territorial battles between the stags begin.
The smaller Barking deer has a long sleek head and measures around 60-70 cm. at the shoulders. The stags have short, two-pointed antlers and tusk-like canine teeth. Their favorite habitat is low to the ground and when fleeing their white under-tail catches the eye. The smallest is the Mouse deer which measures only 20-25 cm. in height and has a reddish-brown coat with white underpants. The stag does not have antlers but instead has long curving canine teeth that extend outside the mouth. In the early years visitors to Ujung Kulon witnessed a Mouse deer ripping open the stomach of a rival during a mating fight. Their habitat is within the forest and they rarely venture onto beaches and clearings.
Banteng (Bos Javanicus)
Since pre-historic times these wild cattle have lived throughout komodo lizardJava and in the 17th century were used to carry loads but now the herds roam wild and are found in just a few locations throughout the island. The males have black coats while the females are usually a golden brown and both have white buttocks and stockings. A mature bull can measure over 170 cm. at the shoulders and although both sexes have horns, only the males are large and curved. Banteng favor open grassy clearings for grazing particularly early and late in the day but also feed on the forest’s young secondary growth and are found throughout the Peninsula and southern Gunung Honje regions.
Bull has a sturdy body, big and strong with the front shoulder higher than the back of his body. There are a pair of horns on his head. In a male bull horns, black glossy, pointed and curved into the mid-anterior direction, while the female bull horns form smaller. On his chest there bagioan gelambir starting from the base of the foot until the neck is still not reaching the esophagus (Hoogerwerf, 1970). According to Hoogerwerf (1970) bull has a sense of smell and hearing are very sharp compared to the vision. Legakul and McNeely (1977) states that the bull is not so sharp vision so the ability to distinguish main enemies depends on the ability of smell and hearing. Therefore, the wind direction is very important for the bull to study the environmental conditions. Bull's body color varies and can be used to distinguish the sexes (Legakul and McNeely, 1977). Bull male has a black body color, the older age of the black color of the body. Bull female has a body color reddish brown, the older the age, the body will be the darker color (dark brown). In young bull that male and female both have the same body color is brown, making it difficult to distinguish gender. But the child's body color of both male and female bull lighter body color than the body of an adult female bison. Hoogerwerf (1970) stated also that the bull's body varies according to location. Bull that was in the area of West Java are generally black in color more than the bull that was in the area of East Java that is more brown in color. This is probably caused by habitat and climatic conditions.
Biawak (Monitor Lizard)
These animals has a long body, resembling a lizard, small eyes, a bit rough scaly skin gray, his skin hard, very sharp teeth. Forked tongue at the edges, always stuck out like ular.Bila walk-julur slow motion, but when hunting prey or chasing lizards others, he can run fast. Although her vision is less sharp, but the smell is very tajam.Satwa this includes eating wild prey alive or dead. Bite is not poisonous, but their saliva contains an extremely deadly poison.
Primates
Ujung javan Kulon has five species of primates with the brown, long-tailed, Crab-eating, macaques being the most commonly seen especially on beaches and reefs at low tide. Peucang Island ssupports four separate groups numbering over two hundred individuals.
The macaques’ strongly hierarchical society is based on a marline system – daughters stay with the mother as long as they live while juvenile males usually leave the group to join another group or become solitary. Within the group structure there can be several adult males with one being the dominant but tolerant leader.
Female macaques usually rank just below their mothers and, interestingly, above older sisters so that even babies from highly ranked mothers can control adult males and females. Primarily fruit eaters, the macaques’ diet includes a wide variety of food and their cheek pouches can hold the equivalent of a stomach load of food which allows for hasty food gathering to be eaten later. Each group has its own territory and although they sleep in trees they do not build nests and unlike the park’s other primates they are equally at home on the ground or in trees.
Another primate, only found in Java, is the glossy komodo lizardblackish-brown Javan silvered leaf monkey which has long, slender limbs and tail. They frequent most regions of the park particularly the Gunung Honje Range but unlike the macaques their groups are small and usually contain one adult male, several females and their young. The rarely seen Grizzled leaf monkey in slightly heavier than the Javan silvered leaf monkey and has a grey coat, long tail and head crest. Very small populations of this extremely rare and endangered monkey live in the Gunung Payung and Honje Ranges. Also endangered is the Javan or Moloch gibbon which is unique to West Java and its habitat in Ujung Kulon is the primary forests of the Gunung Honje Range. These tail-less primates have grey fluffy coats and black faces annd make a distinctive hooting call resembling their Indonesian name Owa. Gibbons are monogamous, mate for life and live in small family groups consisting of a male, female and one or more young.
The young adults leave the group to roam the forest searching for a mate and new territory. The parks’ fifth primate is the Slow Loris and being nocturnal, sightings are uncommon. Around 25 to 30 cm. in size, it has an ash-grey coat and large round eyes for night vision. The notable characteristic is its slow, smooth, perfectly co-ordinate movements which allow it to freeze in mid-movement for self protection if disturbed.
LUTUNG (Trachypithecus auratus)
The East Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus), also known as the ebony lutung, Javan langur or Javan lutung, is an Old World monkey from the Colobinae subfamily. It is most commonly glossy black with a brownish tinge to its legs, sides, and "sideburns". It is found on the island of Java, as well as on several of the surrounding Indonesian islands. The Latin word auratus in its scientific name means "golden", and refers to a less common color variant. Note that the common name golden langur is used for a different species.
Like all langurs, this species' tail is noticeably long, measuring up to 98 cm in length while the body is only around 55 cm long. The two subspecies of this lutung are fairly similar in appearance and are geographically separated; males and females are both usually glossy black, although the females pale, yellowish white patch around the pubic area. Juveniles of both subspecies are orange in color. The nominate subspecies Trachypithecus auratus auratus has a rare morph that does not lose its juvenile coloration when it matures, instead the coloration darkens slightly, with yellow tinges on its sides, limbs, and around its ears, and a black tinge on its back.
The East Javan langur inhabits the interior and peripheral areas of rainforests.
This primate is diurnal and arboreal. Its diet is primarily herbivorous, eating leaves, fruit, flowers, and flower buds, although it also eats insect larvae. As with other colobines, it has evolved a specialised stomach to digest plant material more efficiently. This species also has enlarged salivary glands to assist it in breaking down food.
Like other langurs, the East Javan langur is a social animal, living in groups of around seven individuals, with one or two adult males in the group. Although they will look after offspring of other mothers as well as their own, adult females are aggressive towards females from other groups. The brighter coloring of juveniles may alert females to their presence and ensures that they will always be noticed and protected. This species has no discernible mating season and females produce one offspring at a time.
Wild Pigs
Ujung Kulon has two types of wild pig, the Eurasian wild pig and the Javan warty pig. Similar in size and weight, the Eurasian wild pig sometimes has a light grayish-white stripe from the head to the chest while the male Javan warty pig has three pairs of lumps or warts on the face which can give an old male a monstrous appearance. The coat of the young Eurasian piglet has long yellowish-brown stripes and when disturbed they often make short loud grunts while warty pigs have a high pitched cry. Wild pigs are surprisingly good swimmers and have been known to cross the 700 meters channel between the Peninsula and Peucang island.
Civet
Between a fox and ferret in size with short legs, long muzzle and a tail the same length as its body, the most often seen of these predators is the Common palm civet which is found throughout the park including Panatian Island.
Merak (peacock)
Peacock usually found in the paddocks. This species is a species typical and very large with an upright crest on the head. Shiny green peafowl hairy on the neck and chest and has a longer tail fan of a female peacock, feathers have a round ball like eyes. Peacock usually eat seeds, grass seeds, shoots, leaves, termites, grasshoppers and other small reptiles. In the evening perched on tall trees that rarely leaves. The uniqueness of these animals has always signaled a danger to all animals living in paddocks with a loud voice.
Monkey (long-tailed crab eating macaques)
Ujung Kulon has five species of primates with the brown, long-tailed, Crab-eating, macaques being the most commonly seen especially on beaches and reefs at low tide. Peucang Island ssupports four separate groups numbering over two hundred individuals.
The macaques’ strongly hierarchical society is based on a marline system - daughters stay with the mother as long as they live while juvenile males usually leave the group to join another group or become solitary. Within the group structure there can be several adult males with one being the dominant but tolerant leader.
Female macaques usually rank just below their mothers and, interestingly, above older sisters so that even babies from highly ranked mothers can control adult males and females. Primarily fruit eaters, the macaques’ diet includes a wide variety of food and their cheek pouches can hold the equivalent of a stomach load of food which allows for hasty food gathering to be eaten later. Each group has its own territory and although they sleep in trees they do not build nests and unlike the park’s other primates they are equally at home on the ground or in trees.
Another primate, only found in Java, is the glossy komodo lizardblackish-brown Javan silvered leaf monkey which has long, slender limbs and tail. They frequent most regions of the park particularly the Gunung Honje Range but unlike the macaques their groups are small and usually contain one adult male, several females and their young. The rarely seen Grizzled leaf monkey in slightly heavier than the Javan silvered leaf monkey and has a grey coat, long tail and head crest. Very small populations of this extremely rare and endangered monkey live in the Gunung Payung and Honje Ranges.
Also endangered is the Javan or Moloch gibbon which is unique to West Java and its habitat in Ujung Kulon is the primary forests of the Gunung Honje Range. These tail-less primates have grey fluffy coats and black faces annd make a distinctive hooting call resembling their Indonesian name Owa. Gibbons are monogamous, mate for life and live in small family groups consisting of a male, female and one or more young.
Owa Jawa (Javan Gibbon)
Javan Gibbon is one of the primates in Ujung Kulon that have habitats in the region of Mount Honje. Having a short tail, soft fur gray and black face that caused this primate named gibbons. Gibbons are monogamous animals mate once in her life, and live in small family groups consisting of a male, a female with one or more children. young adult animals left the group to further explore the forest to seek a mate and new territory.
Birds
Although over 250 species have been recorded in Ujung Kulon, the birds are not always easily seen as many live high in the forest canopy or are vigilant inhabitants of the dense undergrowth. However it is the constant bird calls of Ujung Kulon that contribute to the atnosphere of the forest, for seldom is the park silent.