According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, the last Javan rhino in Vietnam has died, the Guardian reported.

Javan rhinoceros [Agencies]?

Poaching has driven the Javan rhinoceros to extinction in Vietnam, leaving the critically endangered species' only remaining population numbering less than 50 on the Indonesian island, the WWF and International Rhino Foundation said on Tuesday.

Even within a protected area, it has proved extremely difficult to defend the species from illegal hunting. Rhinos are poached for their horn, which is a highly prized ingredient in traditional medicines.

According to WWF Vietnam Director Tran Minh Hien, the extinction of the last Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam is a loss to the world's natural heritage and the country's bio-diversity.

To preserve the natural environment and prevent illegal hunting of wild animals are essential to protect them from extinction. It was not well done that led to the death of the last Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam. If the situation is not improved properly, other rare animals in Vietnam would face extinction, warned Nick Cox, manager of WWF-Greater Mekong Program's Protected Areas.

The Javan rhinoceros were believed to be extinct on mainland Asia until one rhinoceros was shot in 1988 in Vietnam's Cat Tien Park. Since then news about a living small group of rhinoceros was known by scientists. From mid 1990, some international organizations joined Vietnam in protecting those animals. However, local construction of infrastructure, hydro power plants, plus illegal hunting, led to the extinction of these rare animals in Vietnam.