🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
The 1883 Krakatoa eruption produced tsunamis that devastated coastlines across the Sunda Strait region.
Significant portions of Ujung Kulon National Park consist of low-lying coastal forest. Historical tsunamis in the Sunda Strait have generated waves exceeding 30 meters in height. While not every event reaches all park areas, the elevation profile increases vulnerability. With the entire Javan rhino population confined within this landscape, coastal inundation poses systemic risk. Elevation mapping reveals that some core habitats lie near sea level. Unlike species with inland refuges, these rhinos lack geographic alternatives. A single extreme wave could impact multiple territories simultaneously. Topography now influences extinction probability.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Disaster risk modeling has become part of conservation planning. Identifying higher ground within the park may offer partial refuge, but relocation during sudden events is not feasible. Concentration in low-elevation zones amplifies hazard exposure. Conservation strategy must account for rare but high-impact scenarios. Geological recurrence intervals become relevant to species survival timelines.
The broader lesson is that habitat protection alone does not eliminate environmental risk. A protected coastline remains vulnerable to ocean dynamics. The Javan rhino’s world is bounded not only by forest edges but by sea level. Its future depends partly on wave height and shoreline resilience. In this case, geography defines both sanctuary and exposure.
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