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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Borneo |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Far the most serious is the case of the two-horned rhinoceros, Didermocerus sumatrensis. It is not even especially reassuring that it occurs elsewhere in Indonesia, since the old Dutch game laws, inadequate as they were, are neither being properly enforced nor replaced in the remoter areas.
The rhino has been hunted to near extinction in Borneo mainly for its horn, hooves and other appendages, which are highly valued by the Chinese as alleged aphrodisiacs. The introduction of firearms to the inland peoples in this century accelerated the killing of an animal which is tough (for blowpipe poison), scentless to most hunting dogs, shy and with good sense of hearing ; but very short-sighted and leaving a trail of mudwallows, stripped bushes and droppings which can be followed even weeks later. It is now theoretically protected in all territories.
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Borneo fauna anxieties
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