Javan rhinos are the rarest large mammals on Earth, with only about 72 individuals remaining in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia. Their welfare depends entirely on the health of this single population in one location.
The welfare of every individual Javan rhino is of extraordinary significance given the total population size. Disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or volcanic events at Ujung Kulon could eliminate the species in a single event. Individual welfare concerns including disease, injury, and reproductive problems have no population buffer. The welfare of this population requires monitoring intensity and intervention capacity that reflects the uniqueness of each individual to the species survival.