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Order : PERISSODACTYLA
Family : Rhinocerotidae
Species : Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
Shoulder height : 1.2 to 1.3 metres
Head-body length : 2.4 to 2.6 metres
Weight : up to 1,000 kg
The critically endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros,
or Asian Two-horned Rhinoceros, is the smaller of the two species of
rhino which occur in Southeast Asia. It reaches a shoulder height of
just 1.3 metres and can weigh up to 1,000 kg: in contrast, the
Javan Rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus
reaches up to 1.8 metres in height and can weigh up to 2,000 kg.
Its natural habitat comprises moist lowland, hill and montane forest, and
its localised movements are typically driven by the search for water. It is
mainly solitary in habits, and is considered a generalist feeder of various
vegetation, particularly woody shrubs and vines.
In Borneo, the species may have once played an important role in the
dispersal of large forest seeds, measuring 4-6 cm across: the only other
mammal which could have dispersed seeds of this size being the Asian
Elephant (which has a limited distribution). Phillips & Phillips (2016)
discuss this subject in some detail.
In 2008,
IUCN estimated there to be around 250 individuals surviving but, sadly,
the numbers are now (2019) likely to be even lower. Attempts to breed
the species in captivity typically end in failure.
Three subspecies of this rhino are recognised, of which one may be
extinct (D. s. lasiotis) unless there is a remnant population
clinging on in Myanmar. D. s. harrissoni until very recently occurred
at a few isolated locations in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo but is now
effectively extinct. The other subspecies, D. s. sumatrensis,
survives at a few locations in Sumatra, but is now probably extinct in
Peninsular Malaysia, and is certainly extinct in Thailand.
The historical range of the Sumatran Rhinoceros was once broad, and included
northeastern India, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Tragically this unique rhinoceros has been driven to the very edge of
extinction mainly by the illegal wildlife trade: despite having tiny horns
these are still poached for the trade in traditional medicine. In Sumatra,
rhino protection units have had some success in halting the killing.
Figs 1 and 2 : Sumatran Rhinoceros in the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Way
Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia.
References :
Phillipps Q. & Phillipps K. (2016). Phillipps’ Field Guide to the
Mammals of Borneo and Their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan.
Second Edition. John Beaufoy Publishing. 400 pp.
van Strien, N.J., Manullang, B., Sectionov, Isnan, W., Khan, M.K.M,
Sumardja, E., Ellis, S., Han, K.H., Boeadi, Payne, J. & Bradley Martin, E.
2008. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2008: e.T6553A12787457.
Links :
Malaysia’s last female Sumatran rhino falls ill
Mongabay.com, 17 Dec 2016
Reports that wild Sumatran rhinos may survive in Malaysia prompt hope,
skepticism
Mongabay.com, 08 Dec 2016
Sumatran rhino is extinct in the wild in Sabah
Mongabay.com, 23 Apr 2015
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