ALMOST every year there is news about the detention of rhino horn traders. Is this a sign of success? Perhaps not. The continuing illegal trade in rhino horns actually reminds us of the sad fact that the population of these rare animals is falling.

The latest instance was on August 27, when the Directorate-General of Law Enforcement at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, together with South Sumatra Police, foiled the sale of eight rhino horns worth Rp245 billion in Palembang. Previously, in April, Banten Police arrested a number of people selling rhino horns worth Rp535 billion in a transaction involving a buyer from China and a seller from Jakarta.

There are two species of rhino in Indonesia, the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus). According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), both species are at risk of extinction, and are categorized as critically endangered. The population of Javan rhinos is down to 68 individuals, while it is estimated that fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos remain.

The rise in illegal trading of rhino horns shows that even in conservation areas such as national parks, these animals are still vulnerable to poaching. Javan rhinos in the Ujung Kulon National Park, Banten, and Sumatran rhinoceroses in a number of national parks in Sumatra face the same threat.

The government has tried to strengthen the legal aspects, including revising the Conservation of Wildlife and Its Ecosystems Law. Law No. 32/2004 increased the penalty for smuggling of wild animals to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to Rp5 billion. This law also contains provisions imposing fines for corporations. However, the protection of rhinos does not end with a revision of the law, especially if it is only implemented halfheartedly.

Conservation needs more than simply punishing criminals. The essence of conservation is keeping animals safe in their habitats. But with poaching and the trade in rhino horns continuing, it is clear that there are shortcomings in the recently improved protection system. The government must ensure that rhino habitats are protected so that the population does not decrease, and can even start to rise again.

The conservation endeavor also requires substantial funding and competent experts, both for preserving the habitats and for monitoring the safety of these animals using technologies such as camera traps. Therefore, support from non-governmental organizations such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature would be of considerable assistance. Unfortunately, apparently for political reasons, the government stopped working with this organization in 2020.

Rhinos need protection not only because there is a law, but also because of the vital role they play in preserving the balance of the ecosystem. They help to disperse seeds and stimulate the growth of new vegetation that is essential to absorb carbon dioxide. With a continually declining population of rhinos, conservation efforts need to be focused on protection and monitoring of rhino habitats, not only sporadic and reactive law enforcement.