 Reference Base  Notes on rhinoceroses in Burma, R. sondaicus and sumatrensis |
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Evans, G.H., 1905. Notes on rhinoceroses in Burma, R. sondaicus and sumatrensis. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 16 (4): 555-561
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Myanmar (Burma) |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Food |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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Burma - species not mentioned. With regard to the nature of their food I am inclined to think that these rhinoceroses are not great grass-feeders, but prefer to browse ob leaves, twigs, shoots, etc., and they seem very partial to fruits. In the dry season the stomach generally contains wild mangoes, figs, Cicca macrocarpa, leaves of trees and bamboo leaves. The fruit and leaves etc. of the following are eaten by these animals, viz. the fruit of the 'Myauk-tanyet' (Parkia insignis, Kurz.). The figs of the 'Sintha-hpan' and 'Tha-hpan' which I find to be Ficus roxburghii and F. glomerata, but I had doubts as to the Burmans being correct as I have heard these names applied to other trees of this natural order. One point may afford a clue to the species and that is the size of the fruit, which is as large as an ordinary apple. The fallen fruit of the Cicea macrocarpa 'Zibyn'; Careya arborea, 'Ban-bwe'; Sandoricum indicum, 'Thit-to' and also that of Dillenia pulcherrima, 'Byu'. The leaves, twigs, etc. of the Castanopsis diversifolia and tribuloides (Kurz), Toddalia aculeata (Kurz), 'Kyan-sa' or 'Pyan-sa' (lit. rhinoceros food). 'Satsha' of which Kurz mentions the Boehmeria hamiltoniana, Sarcochlamys pulcherrima, Trema orientalis and Maoutia puya. The 'Ta-bu' or 'Ta-mu', Harrissonia bennetii and Sonneratia acida. The twigs, shoots and leaves of the bamboo are also freely partaken of, no doubt those of the most plentiful variety of bamboo growing in their haunts. That found in the stomachs of two animals was that of the 'Kayen-wa',' Melocanna bambusoides (baccifera). They are undoubtedly partial to this bamboo, and to some extent localities in which it grows. It is a peculiar and graceful bamboo, grows singly and to a height of fifty feet and over. Each shoot comes up more or less equidistant from its neighbours, and this regularity causes a 'Kayen-wa' jungle to resemble a plantation.
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