Details
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
The Sumatran rhinoceros is a solitary large herbivore of Indomalayan forests. Cathemeral and secretive, it moves quietly through dense woodland.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses tropical forest, montane forest, and wet valleys. Wallows, mineral licks, and connected forest corridors are important.
Body length is about 236-318 cm and weight about 500-960 kg. Small for a rhinoceros, it has thick skin, two horns, and reddish-brown hair.
Strongly solitary, it may feed and travel by day or night. Mud wallows help regulate body temperature and protect the skin.
It is herbivorous, browsing saplings, leaves, branches, and fruit. It breaks vegetation with the mouth while moving through forest.
A single calf is born after a long gestation and stays with the mother for an extended period. Slow breeding makes recovery difficult.
Its status is listed as Critically Endangered. Very small, scattered populations make anti-poaching and breeding support crucial.
