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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Malaysia - Peninsular |
| Subject: |
Morphology - Size |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Although it was only 16 paces from me I was unable to identify the species but I could see that it stood at least 4' 6 inch at the shoulders. Among the many small trees about 3 inches in diameter that grow along the paths followed by the rhino and are used as rubbing posts, is one that I measured. Dried mud and absence of bark reached to a height of 4' 2 inch above the rhino's tracks. If this were caused by rubbing with the shoulder, then the height of the animal at the shoulder would be about 4' 10 inch. This would be too big for a sumatrensis, but the marks could have been made with the head.
Summarizing the information available, we know that in 1937 a sondaicus was shot in this vicinity, which is a typical habitat, i.e. low swampy ground. The species is also known to travel to higher levels periodically. The sumatrensis is more apt to be found in the hills near the sources of streams and yet it has been seen on several occasions in this low-lying area (eg. Lima Blas Estate). Among the many small trees about 3 inches in diameter that grow along the paths followed by the rhino and are used as rubbing posts, is one that I measured. Dried mud and absence of bark reached to a height of 4' 2 inch above the rhino's tracks. If this were caused by rubbing with the shoulder, then the height of the animal at the shoulder would be about 4' 10 inch. This would be too big for a sumatrensis, but the marks could have been made with the head.
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Rubber, tin - and rhinos
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