 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: |
Behaviour - Towards Man |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Burmans and Karens, as a rule, with the exception perhaps of the hunters, are much afraid of these animals, and this is perhaps not to be wondered at if we bear in mind the very ferocious character attributed to them. They are said to attack human beings without provocation, and to be most vindictive and persevering in their pursuit of the object of their anger; they do not fear elephants or tigers.
Burmese and Karen hunters, who in days gone by had some experience in hunting rhino, appear to be unanimous in considering them dangerous animals, and especially so when wounded. This has also been the experience of two or three Europeans over here.
Though in exceptional cases an individual may be of a vicious temperament and inclined to be troublesome without provocation or to charge when suddenly disturbed, as when lying down (as some kinds of animal may do), my small experience tends to make me believe that a rhinoceros is as anxious to preserve a whole hide as most other beasts. I have more than once in dense cover been closer than I really liked without being able to obtain a reasonable shot, the animal knowing he was being hunted. So far I have not had one turn on me, for which I am not sorry, not having the smallest desire that one should do so as I have learned that however ungainly and awkward their appearance may be, it is a pure fallacy to consider that they are wanting in agility. On the contrary, they are astonishingly agile. When wounded, if the assailant be in view and the animal not too sick, he may charge, and he is, as I have remarked, an active and dangerous beast and what is worse requires some stopping. I have only heard of a couple of instances in which unwounded animals have given trouble. On one occasion two rhino held up a party of survey coolies in the course of their work, and on the other a rhino chased a gun bearer or hunter who managed to climb a tree, but had not got far enough up before the rhino overtook him was able to give him a bite as well as afford him a hoist up. The Burmans state that in attacking, these brutes use their incisors freely, also the horn, and end up by trampling on their adversary.
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