The Ujung Kulon Culture Festival 2024 event, scheduled for July 26-29, 2024, will serve as a platform for campaigning the conservation of protected species, particularly the Javan Rhinos, which serves as the icon of Pandeglang Regency.
This was expressed by the Chairman of the Implementation, Yudi Wahyudin, during a meeting of the Ujung Kulon Culture Festival committee with Ardi Andono, the Head of Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK), in Pandeglang on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
“We, the committee of the Ujung Kulon Culture Festival, intend to assist TNUK in the ‘Protect Our Rhinos’ campaign. We are ready to collaborate across organizations to support TNUK and the local community around Ujung Kulon in campaigning for rhinoceros conservation through various activities,” said Yudi.
Yudi hopes that through the Ujung Kulon Culture Festival 2024, the community can become more educated and concerned about the conservation of the one-horned rhinoceros, which is unique to Ujung Kulon Pandeglang.
“With this collaboration, I hope the community will be more vigilant in preserving and conserving endangered species found on the tip of Java Island, including the one-horned rhinoceros, which symbolizes Pandeglang Regency,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, Ardi Andono, the Head of Ujung Kulon National Park, welcomed and is ready to collaborate in the Ujung Kulon Culture Festival 2024 activities initiated by dozens of cross-disciplinary organizations.
Ardi explained that historically, the one-horned rhinoceros was originally distributed across various regions including Bima, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sumatra. However, over time, due to various circumstances, the one-horned rhinoceros became extinct in those areas, leaving Ujung Kulon as the last refuge where it has been preserved, largely due to the influence of the local community surrounding the park.
“In the context of this event, we at TNUK are ready to collaborate, particularly in the ‘Protect Our Rhinos’ campaign, by providing space to educate and raise awareness about the habitat of the Ujung Kulon rhinoceros, both in historical context and in the face of global challenges,” he stated.
He emphasized that the younger generation must play an active role in conserving rhinoceroses, as they hold the hope of preventing their extinction.
“The involvement of all stakeholders is crucial, especially local government agencies, in empowering communities residing near the Ujung Kulon National Conservation Area,” he concluded.
Source: Pandeglang News