sumatran rhinoceros (dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
The Sumatran Rhino is more related to the extinct Woolly Rhino than any Rhino alive today. Only two females in captivity had babies in the last 15 years! Two different subspecies of Sumatran Rhinoceros the western Sumatran Rhinoceros and eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros. Scientists believe the third subspecies is already extinct.
description
Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the rhinoceroses that is alive today (3.3-5 feet tall and 6.5-13 feet long). It is also the only asian rhinoceros with two horns. They are covered with hair. Young Adults are reddish brown. They weight up to 1,320 -2,090 pounds!
habitat
Sumatran Rhinos live on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The habitats they live in are highland and lowland tropical and sub-tropical forests. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is belived to have one of the largest populations of Sumatran rhinos.
why are they important
Almost everywhere where Rhinos live there are other endangered plants and animals. Protecting the Rhinos will also be helping the endangered plants and animals!
threats
Medice with Sumatran Rhino horn.
The Sumatran Rhino is a Critically Endangered species. There are only 100 left! Sumatran rhino is definitely one of the most endangered large mammal in the world.They once lived in the the Eastern Himalayas in Bhutan and eastern India, through Myanmar, Thailand, possibly to Vietnam and China, and south through the Malay Peninsula.They have been poached for their beautiful horn. The horn don't have any medical properties. But Vietnamese believe that their horn cures cancer.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is believed to have one of the largest populations of Sumatran rhinos, but it is losing rainforest as they are being chopped down for coffee, rice and palm oil plantations.
Some other threats are not breeding, diseases and natural distress.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is believed to have one of the largest populations of Sumatran rhinos, but it is losing rainforest as they are being chopped down for coffee, rice and palm oil plantations.
Some other threats are not breeding, diseases and natural distress.
conservation
WWF sets up protected areas of this species and anti-poaching patrols. They have protected more then 7,722 square miles of forest!
how you can help
One way to help the amazing Sumatran Rhino is not to buy any rhino or animal products. "They look much better on the animal" Steve Irwin! Send letters to the government about protecting their habitat and making Palm Oil illegal. Have a Palm Oil free diet! Spread the message.
image credits
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/asian_rhinos/sumatran_rhinoceros/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-rhino
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-rhino
