The population of the Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas) in the Mount Ungaran area, Central Java, is now on the brink of local extinction. Based on the latest estimates, this apex predator endemic to the island of Java is estimated to have only about four to seven individuals left in its habitat.
Senior Researcher for Biodiversity Conservation at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Prof. Hendra Gunawan, revealed that this situation is highly concerning. The tiny population size makes this group of animals extremely vulnerable to extinction from disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and massive habitat destruction.
Although the physical presence of the leopards has not been directly captured by camera traps, a research team from the Semarang State University (Unnes) in collaboration with the Djarum Foundation has still found evidence of the animals' activities. Scratch marks on trees marking their territory and findings of feces on their roaming paths indicate that they are still surviving.
The main problem facing leopards on Mount Ungaran is habitat isolation. Unlike other areas, the forest on Mount Ungaran lacks a green corridor connecting it to other forest areas. This condition forces inbreeding (inbreeding), which in the long run can damage genetic quality and lower the animals' immune systems against diseases.
Pressure on this ecosystem is further exacerbated by land conversion at the foot of the mountain into agricultural areas, plantations, and residential settlements. Mount Ungaran's current status as a protection forest and production forest is deemed insufficient to limit human activities that are increasingly encroaching into the upstream areas.
In addition, the availability of natural prey such as deer and mouse-deer continues to dwindle due to widespread poaching. This food scarcity is feared to trigger new conflicts between leopards and communities surrounding the forest.
To prevent the permanent loss of this species, researchers are urging the government to immediately upgrade the legal status of the Mount Ungaran area to a Grand Forest Park (Tahura) or conservation area. In addition, at least 40 additional camera traps (camera trap) are needed to map the population and movement of the animals more accurately.
