Marsupial rhinoceros. Sumatran rhinos (lat. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Distribution and habitats

Conservation status: Critically endangered.
Listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of all species and the only Asian rhinoceros to have two horns. Their body is covered with long hair, which indicates a close relationship with the extinct ancestors of the woolly rhinoceros. Characteristic features include fringed ears, reddish-brown skin variably covered with long hair, and wrinkled skin around the eyes.

The calf is born with a dense coat that becomes reddish-brown in adolescence and sparse, bristly and almost black in later life. The anterior horn, as a rule, is 25-80 centimeters long, while the posterior horn is smaller - no more than 10 centimeters. The size of the Sumatran rhinoceros: length - 2-4 meters, 1-1.5 meters in height, and weight is 600-1000 kilograms.

Taking mud baths

The habitat of the Sumatran rhinoceros ranges from low-lying swamps to montane forests. At the same time, preference is given to secondary forests, where low-growing plants are more common. In Sumatran rhinoceros, they can live in small groups, but mostly adhere to a solitary lifestyle, as they are considered territorial animals and avoid each other. Females produce offspring no earlier than once every 3-4 years from October to May, which corresponds to the rainy season in the region. Cubs gain independence at the age of 16-17 months and can join other minors until the moment of a solitary lifestyle. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 6-7 years, and males - at 10 years. Lifespan is similar to other rhino species and ranges from 35-40 years.

Lunch break

Sumatran rhinos, along with Javan rhinos, are endangered. The greatest danger comes from poaching. There are also no signs of a stable reproduction of the captive population, since over the past 15 years, only a few cubs have appeared. Sumatran rhinoceros previously lived at the foot of the Eastern Himalayas in Bhutan, eastern India, Thailand, Vietnam, China and the south of the Malay Peninsula. Two different subspecies - the western and eastern Sumatran rhinoceros now live on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo and are trying to restore their numbers.

The demand for rhinoceros horn from prosperous Asian communities is increasing more and more every year. Poaching is a real threat to the entire population of the Sumatran rhinoceros. Demand is on the rise from countries such as Vietnam, where the medical profession unreasonably believes that rhino horn can cure cancer. Animal welfare organizations urge practitioners to stop using rhino parts. Studies of the world's largest wildlife trade networks have shown that the use of rhinoceros horn in traditional medicine persists in many countries of the world today. Sumatran rhinos are also extremely vulnerable to extinction due to natural disasters, disease and inbreeding.

Nowadays, the number of these ancient animals is very small. In some Asian countries, their number does not exceed the number of fingers on the hands. The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest and rarest of all rhino species. All parts of the body of this animal were highly valued and valued as an excellent means of increasing sexual activity. For these human prejudices, the animal pays with its own life. Still.

Previously, the habitat of this animal was quite extensive: from East Bengal and Assam throughout Burma, in most of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Kalimantan and, of course, Sumatra. Now these unique animals can be found only in small areas and in numbers rarely exceeding 30 individuals. These are Thailand - about 6 rhinos, Cambodia - about 10, Malaysia - from 10 to 30, Kalimantan - no more than 30, Burma - in special protected reserves - 10-20 individuals, and the island of Sumatra, where there are the largest number of them - 60 individuals.

They feed on leaves, twigs, bamboo shoots, sometimes fruits.

Sumatran rhinos are good-natured, but rather shy animals. They prefer to stay alone or in pairs, most often it is a female with a cub. These animals are very fond of water and swim well, so they choose their habitat near water bodies. Rhinos also love to bask in huge mud "baths".

Taking a mud bath

They are quite easy to distinguish from other types of rhinos. They are the smallest. The body length of an adult does not exceed 280 centimeters, the height at the withers is 100-150 centimeters. But their weight with such small dimensions can be very impressive - up to 1000 kilograms. The skin of the Sumatran rhinoceros, unlike other species of Asian rhinos, is quite smooth and soft. It is covered with sparse hairs. Especially "shaggy" are the ears with small tassels and sides.

Hairy skin
Tassels on the ears of the Sumatran rhinoceros
These are small animals.

A feature of the Sumatran rhinoceros is the presence of 2 horns. The anterior horn is much larger than the second, which can generally look like a small bump on the nose. The large horn grows up to 15-45 centimeters. Females also have horns, but they are much smaller and not as noticeable.

Above is a female rhinoceros, below is a male

Because of the healing properties of these horns, the Sumatran rhinos were hunted. Previously, back in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, all parts of his body: skin, meat, bones, blood, internal organs and horns were highly valued as an excellent tool for increasing sexual activity. The Chinese still have this belief. They are willing to shell out any amount of money for a rhinoceros horn. For reference: now the cost of 1 kilogram of the horn of this animal in the "black markets" in Southeast Asia is about 60 thousand US dollars, and in some places even higher. The main buyers come from China, South Korea and Taiwan.

In order to somehow preserve this animal, and not classify it in the near future as "Extinct Animals", in almost all countries where these rhinos live, a law on their protection and protection was introduced. But here's the paradox, there is a law on protection, but the sale of parts of his body is still recognized as legal. How can this be? As you can see, maybe. Therefore, until these bills are thoroughly revised, people will still find loopholes that will allow them to get around them.

Now in captivity, Sumatran rhinos are kept in the zoo of the American city of Cincinnati (Ohio). Here, a female rhinoceros named Amy is breeding for the second time. The first cub was born in 2001. He became the first Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity since the 19th century. In 2007, Amy pleased the zookeepers with the birth of her second cub.

Puberty in females occurs at the age of 6-7 years, while in males - only by 10 years. Unlike other species, in female Sumatran rhinos, the egg is formed only after mating. This is useful for animals leading a solitary lifestyle. During the courtship period, males are sometimes very aggressive and can scratch females with their horns.

Pregnancy lasts about 15-16 months. Only 1 cub weighing 40-60 kilograms is born. He lives with his mother for the first 2-3 years and feeds on her milk until the age of 15 months. In nature, the interval for the birth of cubs is approximately 4-5 years.

According to experts, only about 170 individuals of these animals remain in Southeast Asia. Let's hope Amy's experience will help keep their population alive.

Sumatran rhinoceros(lat. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), also known as the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, is a shy and much more good-natured animal than some other species of rhino.

This is the most ancient species of living rhinoceros, close to the tertiary fossil species. He still has incisors. The skin is covered with sparse red hair, tassels of hair are developed on the ears.

Ear tufts of hair

The folds in the skin of the Sumatran rhinoceros are less noticeable than in the other two Asian species, and the skin itself is relatively thin and smooth. Young animals are covered with hair of different density depending on the habitat, in adults it almost completely disappears.

For the most part, it leads a solitary lifestyle, uniting only for mating.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is a peaceful herbivore. It lives in the forests of Southeast Asia and feeds mainly on branches and shoots of shrubs and trees, sometimes eating them completely. Rhino loves mango fruits and figs. To get to the young leaves, he attracts branches with his upper lip or completely crushes the plant under him.
The animal receives food with the help of a finger-like appendage, which is located on the lip. While eating, the rhinoceros spits with pleasure. Having eaten a bush, the animal moves to another plant, located nearby, a few meters from the first. The rhinoceros feeds on plants of various species, thus avoiding the oversaturation of the body with toxic substances found in almost all tropical plants. An adult rhinoceros requires a large amount of plant food. In the intestines of this giant live bacteria that help digest food.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest rhinoceros in the world. An adult animal rarely reaches a height at the shoulders of 1.3-1.5 meters, its length is about three meters and its weight is about one ton.

There are three subspecies of the Sumatran rhinoceros:

Western Sumatran rhinoceros ( D.s. sumatrensis) , approximately 275 of these rhinos are known, mostly found in western Sumatra. About 75 members of this subspecies may be found in Peninsular Malaysia. The subspecies is threatened by habitat loss and illegal poaching.
Northern Sumatran rhinoceros ( D.s. lasiotis), met in Bangladesh.
Eastern Sumatran rhinoceros ( D.s. harrissoni) , met on the island of Borneo, now about 25 individuals are known.

There is a genetic difference between the western and eastern subspecies. Those western rhinos that are common in Malaysia used to have their own subspecies name D.s. Niger, but soon, due to similarities, was combined with rhinos from the western part of Sumatra.
The mainland animals are somewhat larger than the island ones, their coat is lighter and more authentic. The tail is shorter, with a clearly visible brush at the end, the ears are covered with thicker hair along the edges.

In the past, the Sumatran rhinoceros was distributed over a considerable area, from East Bengal and Assam throughout Burma, to most of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, to Malaya, Sumatra and Kalimantan. On both large islands, fossil bones of the rhinoceros at prehistoric sites have been found far from where it is currently preserved.

This rhinoceros is easily distinguished from other Asian species not only by its smaller size, but also by its two horns. The anterior horn is long, usually 40-50 centimeters, the posterior horn is much shorter, almost like a large cone, protruding a few centimeters. In some individuals, it is so small that it can be overlooked. This probably explains the earlier references to the one-horned rhinoceros.

Both males and females have horns, but in females they are three times shorter.

The fact that rhinos live in a particular area is evidenced mainly by the traces left by them - broken trees or bushes and excrement. Sumatran rhinos inhabit mainly mountainous areas - they are common in mountain forests. Making its way through dense thorny thickets, the rhinoceros makes paths, leaving behind a strip of flattened plants.

The Sumatran rhinoceros visits green pastures in the morning and evening, and spends day and night in the swamp, where its body is covered with a layer of mud - in this way the rhinoceros protects itself from the bites of blood-sucking insects.

Sumatran rhinoceroses mark their paths with excrement, and dominant males also mark trees and bushes with their horns. As a rule, adult animals are kept alone. Females take care of their babies for a long time.

The mating ritual of the Sumatran rhinoceros can last up to 1.5 hours. Females carry cubs for more than twelve months. The baby is born well developed. A newborn weighs approximately 350 kg. An hour after birth, he gets up and tastes the milk. Rhinoceroses prefer a solitary lifestyle, but mothers are affectionately attached to their cubs and therefore they do not leave their babies for a long time. Females are the first teachers of cubs: they teach them to find food, water, shelter, as well as places that are suitable for mud baths. At the age of 18 months, lactation stops, but the cub remains with the mother until she gives birth to the next baby. Females bring one cub every three years. The female reaches puberty at the age of 4, and the male - only at the age of 7 years.

In the past, laws that tried to protect this rhino proved powerless in many areas. Poachers were forbidden to kill this animal. However, trade in parts of his body was not prosecuted. The horns, skin, blood, bones and urine of this rhinoceros have long been considered by some peoples as means of stimulating sexual desire. It was sold mainly in China, where the horn trade has been going on for many centuries. It is said that prices reached their highest level before the Second World War, when the horn was worth its weight in gold. In Thailand at that time there was even a special customs duty on it. Apparently, it is impossible to shake the faith of the Chinese in the special properties of the horn - they are ready to pay any price for it. Chinese pharmacists use almost all parts of the carcasses of all three Asian rhinos: horns, skin, meat, various organs, blood, bones and even urine.

Although the Sumatran rhinoceros lived in remote places far from populated areas, the high price always proved to be a very strong incentive, and it was mercilessly exterminated everywhere. The Dayaks in Kalimantan, for example, hunted him hard and sold them to the Chinese. It is said that the Punans in Central Kalimantan could carefully follow the animal for weeks, until an opportunity presented itself to use arrows and poisoned darts.

In Sumatra, Batta hunters would sneak up on a rhinoceros and use a sharp knife to cut the tendons on its legs, dig well-camouflaged holes along the rhinoceros' paths, or set traps from heavy suspended spears over the path.

Today, 1 kg of rhinoceros horn costs about US$60,000 in Southeast Asia. The main buyers come from Taiwan, as well as from the mainland - from China and from South Korea.
To save the species, a global captive breeding program has been developed.

Now in captivity, Sumatran rhinos are kept in the zoo of the American city of Cincinnati (Ohio). Here, a female rhinoceros named Amy is breeding for the second time. The first cub was born in 2001. He became the first Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity since the 19th century. In 2007, Amy pleased the zookeepers with the birth of her second cub.

Amy with her second baby

The birth of the Sumatran rhinoceros at the zoo:

scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryotes
Kingdom: Animals
Type of: Chordates
Class: Mammals
Detachment: Odd-toed ungulates
Family: Rhinoceros
Genus: Dicerorhinus
View: Sumatran rhinoceros

Sumatran rhinos live on the peninsulas of Indochina and Malacca, the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, and, in addition, in the territories of Assam and Burma. Unfortunately, in all these places they live in a very small number.

These animals, whose Latin name is Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, are equids belonging to the rhinoceros family. This species is notable for being the smallest member of this family. An adult has a body length of 200 - 280 cm, and a height at the withers - from 100 to 150 centimeters. The weight of these rhinos can reach one ton.

Sumatran rhinos are the oldest representatives of this animal family. Their body is covered with sparse bristly hairs over the entire surface, and even their ears have a border of hair.

It is noteworthy that in young rhinos the hair is quite thick, and over the years it begins to thin out until it completely disappears. The body color of each animal may differ from others and vary from gray to black. There are two horns on the muzzle of the Sumatran rhinoceros, and the back horn is very small, it looks more like a ledge. And the height of the front horn can reach 15-45 cm. The size of the horn in males is much larger than the size of the horns of females of this species of rhinos.

The Sumatran rhinos choose their habitats in the forests, and in places close to the reservoir. They prefer to settle on hills and hills. These are solitary animals. During the day, Sumatran rhinos are not very active, they try to hide in some secluded place or just lie in a mud pit.

Representatives of this species living on the mainland differ from the island Sumatran rhinos. First, mainland rhinos are larger in size. Secondly, their coat color is lighter, and the coat itself is longer. Thirdly, they also differ in the size of the tail: for those who live on the mainland, it is slightly shorter and has a tassel at the end. Fourthly, the ears of mainland rhinos are covered with a very thick white coat, which is not observed in rhinos living on the islands.

Sumatran rhinos differ from other rhinos in that they have less pronounced folds. Their skin is thinner and smoother. Sumatran rhinos feed on bamboo shoots, leaves and various twigs. Females carry cubs for 7-8 months, as a rule, only one baby is born. Unfortunately, these days, Sumatran rhinos are on the verge of extinction, which is why they were listed in the Red Book, hoping that this will help preserve their population.

In ancient times, Sumatran rhinos lived in many places, but they were subjected to rapid extermination. For hunters, they were valuable with their horn, as well as other parts of the case. There is a belief that some parts of the rhino's body can increase potency. Such funds were most popular in China.

Those wishing to hunt rhinoceros were not stopped either by the fact that these animals live in places remote from human habitation, or by the inaccessibility of these places. All peoples had their own ways of hunting rhinos. The peak of the extermination of Sumatran rhinos has come in the last century, as hunters began to use firearms.

Today, there are only somewhere from 100 to 170 representatives of Sumatran rhinos in the world. Most of them (about 60 individuals) live on the island of Sumatra, about 20-30 more - in Burma, about the same in Malaysia, from 10 to 30 in Kalimantan, 6 - in Thailand and a little more in Cambodia.

The rapid pace of agricultural development also contributed to the reduction of this species. More and more new territories are being developed by people, which is why animals are forced to leave their usual habitats and look for other territories suitable for living. This also explains the fact that many individuals are settled so far from each other that they simply do not have the opportunity to meet and breed.

Only one representative of the Sumatran rhinoceros is known to live in captivity. This is a female caught in 1959. She lives in the Copenhagen Zoo to this day. Throughout the time that she lives in this zoo, they tried to find a mate for her, but, unfortunately, all attempts were unsuccessful.

Order - Odd-ungulates / Family - Rhinoceros / Genus - Dicerorhinus

History of study

Sumatran rhinoceros (lat. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is a mammal from the genus of Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus) of the rhino family (Rhinocerotidae). The only surviving member of the genus.

Spreading

The Sumatran rhinoceros lives in lowland and mountain secondary forests, in tropical rainforests and swamps, at an altitude of up to 2500 meters above sea level. Prefers hilly areas with plenty of water. Previously, the range of the Sumatran rhinoceros included Burma, East India and Bangladesh. According to unconfirmed reports, they also existed in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Currently, the species has survived only on the Malay Peninsula, the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Some conservationists have suggested that a small population exists in Burma, although this is considered unlikely. Political instability in the country does not allow for research.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is very widely scattered throughout its range, making conservation difficult. There are 6 populations: 4 in Sumatra (National Parks Bukit Barisan Selatan, Gunung Leuser, Kerinsi Seblat. and Wai Kambas, 1 in the Malay Peninsula (National Park Taman Negara) and 1 in Borneo (Tabin Reserve).

Appearance

The height of the Sumatran rhinoceros at the withers is 112-145 cm, body length is 236-318 cm, weight is 800-2000 kg, an average of 1400 kg. It has 2 horns: the nasal one is 15-25 cm long, the record length is 81 cm; the posterior horn is much shorter than the nasal one, and reaches a length of about 10 cm. The horns are dark gray or black. Males are longer than females.

The skin of the Sumatran rhinoceros has folds that surround the body behind the front legs and extend to the hind legs. There are also small folds on the neck. The skin itself is thin, 10-16 mm thick, there is no subcutaneous fat. Hair can be either thick (in young individuals) or almost completely absent. Their color is usually reddish brown. Hair is difficult to spot, as rhino skin is usually covered in mud. In captivity, the hairline is thicker, which may be due to the fact that under natural conditions it is erased on dense vegetation. There is a hairball around the ears and at the tip of the tail. Sumatran rhinos have poor eyesight. They are fast and agile, able to easily overcome mountain slopes and river banks.

Life expectancy in the wild is 30-45 years. A female northern Sumatran rhinoceros died at the London Zoo in 1900 at 32 years and 8 months, a record age in captivity.

reproduction

Female Sumatran rhinos become sexually mature at the age of 6-7 years, males - at 10 years. Pregnancy lasts about 15-16 months. Newborns weigh 40-60 kg, lactation lasts 15 months. Cubs live with their mothers until they are 2-3 years old. In the wild, females give birth every 4-5 years.

Sexual relations are characterized by male courtship, tail-raising, urination, and face-to-face slapping. Young males are aggressive towards females, sometimes they can kill them. In the wild, females are capable of escaping males, but in captivity, male aggression is usually fatal.

The estrus period lasts 24 hours and occurs every 21-25 days. Rhinos from the Cincinnati Zoo copulated for 30-50 minutes, similar to other members of the family. In Malaysia, a short copulation period has been noted. Prolonged mating characterizes natural behavior. Although scientists noted successful concepts, pregnancies ended unsuccessfully for a number of reasons until 2001, when the first cub was born in captivity. Research in Cincinnati has shown that ovulation in Sumatran rhinos is mating-induced, resulting in unpredictable blood progesterone levels. Breeding success was achieved in 2001 when progestins were administered to pregnant females.

Lifestyle

Vision in Sumatran rhinos is poorly developed. Like other rhinos, they navigate primarily by smell.

In terms of speed of movement, this species is not inferior to representatives of other species of the family. In addition, Sumatran rhinos are known to be excellent swimmers.

Sumatran rhinos live in forests and swamps located above 2500 meters above sea level on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, as well as on the Malay Peninsula. It is believed that a number of individuals survived in Burma.

Both females and males live alone, except during the mating season and when the female is raising the cubs. Each Sumatran rhinoceros has its own territory, and males have 5 times more territory than females. In cold weather, they stay in the lowlands, and during the rains - in the highlands.

Sumatran rhinos create trails on their territory. They thoroughly trample down those that connect important objects of the food cycle (for example, salt licks). Ordinary paths are trampled down without harming the vegetation, especially if the animal feeds on it. Interestingly, in some cases the trail can cross water bodies.

Like other species of the family, Sumatran rhinos love to swim in the mud.

Food

In search of food, rhinos come out at dawn, and before nightfall they begin to graze again. Their diet includes vegetation - mostly low-growing trees, or rather their shoots, fruits and leaves. In food, rhinos look mainly for fiber, protein and minerals. The daily food intake for the Sumatran rhinoceros is 50 kg of food.

population

As of mid-2011, the number of Sumatran rhinos is less than 275 individuals. This species has been identified as critically endangered because: a) surviving individuals are regularly killed by poachers; b) it is very difficult to protect them due to the strong dispersion of the population; c) Sumatran rhinos almost do not give offspring in captivity.

By mid-2011, the existence of 2 subspecies of Sumatran rhinoceros was confirmed:
- Western Sumatran rhinoceros (there are more than fifty representatives);
- Eastern Sumatran rhinoceros (there are less than a hundred representatives).

Sumatran rhinoceros and man

Prior to human intervention, Sumatran rhinos were numerous throughout Southeast Asia. The current population is less than 275 individuals. The species is classified as critically endangered, primarily due to poaching. Until the early 1990s, the population decline was 50% per decade. Sumatran rhinos are now facing a serious inbreeding problem. Most of the remaining habitats are in the remote mountainous regions of Indonesia.

Poaching endangers the continued existence of the species. The hunting of the Sumatran is primarily due to the supposedly healing properties of their horns. The price of the horn is estimated at 30 thousand dollars per kilogram. The animals have been hunted for many centuries, which has led to a significant decline in the population. Its decline continues to this day. In the 1970s, among the people of Sumatra, body parts of rhinos were used for amulets and protection from snake venom. Dried meat is used to treat diarrhea, leprosy and tuberculosis. "Rhinoceros oil" - a skull left in coconut oil - is used to treat skin conditions.

The rainforests inhabited by the Sumatran rhinoceros are subject to both legal and illegal logging. Rare tree species such as Intsia bijuga, Shorea and gutta-percha sell for $1,800 per m3. Laws restricting logging are poorly enforced. The 2004 earthquake was a reason to justify poaching. Although the hardwoods of the forests inhabited by the Sumatran rhinoceros are for export and not for domestic construction, the number of logging licenses increased dramatically in 2004.