Rhino Species
Sumatran Rhino
The Rhino Family
Sumatran rhino
(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
The Sumatran rhino is the most threatened of all rhinoceros species Fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos survive in small populations in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser and Way Kambas National Parks (both located on the island of Sumatra) and a few isolated animals inhabit central Kalimantan. The Government of Indonesia and rhino experts from around the world have agreed that the only way to bring the Sumatran rhino back from the brink of extinction is to consolidate the widely dispersed, fragmented wild populations into managed breeding facilities under an emergency action plan.
The Sumatran rhino is also called the Asian two-horned rhino as it is the only two horned rhino in the Asian region. It has long, shaggy hair on its ears and body, in contrast to other rhinos which appear hairless.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered & Population Declining
Facts
BIOLOGY
- The Sumatran rhino lives in dense tropical forest, both lowland and highland, mainly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
- This species is a browser and an opportunistic feeder with a very varied diet that may include more than 100 plant species.
- Sumatran rhinos live between 35 and 40 years. Gestation lasts approximately 15-16 months, and cows are believed to give birth to one calf about every 3 years.
- These tropical forest dwellers are generally solitary in nature.
COMMON NAMES
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Asian Two-Horned Rhinoceros: the only two-horned rhino in the Asian region.
SCIENTIFIC NAME AND ORIGIN
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
“Dicerorhinus”: 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)
CURRENT SUMATRAN RHINO NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos survive in fragmented populations in Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan, Gunung Leuser, and Way Kambas National Parks, and a small population was recently found in central Kalimantan.
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 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 long hair.
Photo Gallery
The Sumatran Rhino Needs Your Help
Sumatran Rhino Rescue
The global partnership working together to save Sumatran rhinos from extinction.