Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinos sumatrensis)

Sumatran Rhino

Common Names

  • Sumatran Rhinoceros
  • Hairy Rhinoceros: refers to its long, shaggy hair, in contrast to the other species which appear hairless.
  • Asian Two-Horned Rhinoceros: the only two-horned rhino in the Asian region.

Scientific Name and Origin

  • Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
  • Dicerorhinu: from the Greek di, meaning "two" and “ceros”, meaning "horn" and “rhinos”, meaning "nose" and “sumatrensis” referring to Sumatra (with the Latin-ensis, meaning locality)

 
IUCN Red List:  Critically Endangered
CITES:  Appendix I

The Sumatran rhino, also called the “hairy rhino” because of its hairy body and tufted ears, is the most endangered of all rhinoceros species because of its rapid rate of decline. Because of poaching, numbers have decreased more than 50% over the last 15 years.  It is believed that only around 200 Sumatran rhinos survive in very small and highly fragmented populations in Southeast Asia.  Indonesia and Sabah, Malaysia hold the only significant populations. The persistence of populations in Peninsular Malaysia is questionable. Sumatran rhinos exist only is protected areas where they are physically guarded from harm by Rhino Protection Units.  The continuation of this protection provides the best possible hope for the species’ survival.

Current Sumatran Rhino Numbers and Distribution

There are an estimated 200 Sumatran rhinos surviving.  Between 12 and 15 animals remain in Sabah, Malaysia. The remainder of the population lives in three Indonesian National Parks in Sumatra: Gunung Leuser, Way Kambas, and Bukit Barisan Selatan.

Biology

The Sumatran rhino lives in dense tropical forest, both lowland and highland, mainly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and on Borneo.  Populations in peninsular Malaysia are thought to have undergone losses in the past few years, and intensive surveys need to be conducted to confirm their continued existence.

Sumatran rhinos are browsers with a very varied diet. The species is an opportunistic feeder, consuming a wide variety of plant species in the tropical forest.

Sumatran rhinos live between 35 and 40 years. Gestation lasts approximately 15-16 months, and mothers give birth to one calf every 3 years.

Females reach sexual maturity between 6 and 7 years of age; males mature at approximately 10 years of age.

Sumatran rhinos are generally solitary in nature.
 


Additional Information

Physical Characteristics

Size

  • Weight: 1,300 - 2,000 pounds (600 - 950 kg)
  • Height: 3 - 5 feet (1.0 -1.5m)
    tall at shoulder
  • Length: 6.5 - 9.5 feet (2.0 - 3.0m) length of body 

Horn

  • Sumatran rhinos have two horns. The front (anterior) horn is larger and measures 10 - 31 inches (25-79 cm) long. The second horn is smaller, generally less than 3 inches (10 cm).

Other Features

  • Fringed ears and reddish-brown skin, variably covered with sparse long hair (sparse to sometimes dense).