Wray, L., 1905. Rhinoceros trapping. Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums 1 (2): 63-65
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Malaysia - Peninsular |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Poaching |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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They are caught in pit-falls, made in the jungle tracks which they follow. The pits are rectangular holes 7 hasters long, 3 hasters wide and 5 hasters deep, i.e. 10 ? ft x 4 ? ft x 8 ? ft. These pits are dug out with perpendicular sides, then the sides and ends are lined with stakes of about 4 inches in diameter, driven into the bottom of the pit and of such length that the upper ends are flush with the surface of the ground. At about one foot from the top are placed four horizontal pieces of wood, to hold the upright stakes in place. These horizontals are longer than the length and breadth of the pit and their ends are buried in the earth. The heap or heaps of earth thrown out from the hole are carefully covered up with leaves. These heaps are thrown up on one side or one either side of the pit as may be most convenient, the length of the pit being in a line with the direction of the track which the animal are in the habit of following. The pit is covered with thin stiucks, and leaves are laid on top of them. It is so well concealed that no one would notice a pit when walking through the jungle and they are most decidedly dangerous.
An animal having fallen into one, he is kept there by laying pieces of wood over the hole; these are laid lengthwise and the ends are retained by two cross pieces, which are themselves secured by eight stakes driven into the ground in a slanting direction, forming four Xs. These are lashed together with rattans where they cross and two other pieces of wood are laid on top of the crossings and also fastened down tight with rattan. An enclosure is next built at the end of the pit where the animal's head is. It is made of wooden stakes securely lashed together with rattans and rather larger than the pit-fall. A fence on either side connects it with the pit and extends about a third of the length of the pit, so as to prevent the rhinoceros escaping sideways. There is a space left at the end of the enclosure next to the pit for the insertion of pieces of wood so as to close the open end. All being ready, the longitudinal pieces of wood covering the mouth of the pit are withdrawn and earth is thrown into the hole at the end where the animal's head is, and he mounts on it and walks into the enclosure. Another method is to throw in pieces of wood on which he also mounts. Ropes often have to be employed to help him out. Having got him into the enclosure, the bars before mentioned are slipped into place to prevent him backing into the pit again.
A cleared track now has to be cut through the jungle from the pit-fall to the nearest river. This done, ropes are passed round the body of the rhino, one just behind the shoulders and another in front of the hind legs. To each of these ropes are attached two others, two on either side of the animal. This being done, five men take hold of each of the ropes, that is 20 men in all, while others demolish the enclosure. The rhino is then made to walk along the previously cleared track to the nearest river. At night an enclosure is constructed round the animal and the men sleep in shelters close to it. It is said that they can take one a distance of ten miles in three days. Arrived at the river, a cage is constructed of round wood poles and the animal put into it. The cage is then put onto a raft or boat. A place being chosen where a large tree can be used as a derrick to lift the cage. It can then be conveyed to a port or shipped to Penang or Singapore for sale.
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Rhinoceros trapping
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