Ridley, H.N., 1901. The Sumatran rhinoceros. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 35: 105-106
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Captive - Asia |
| Subject: |
Captivity - Zoo Records |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Lately, however, two examples of R. sumatrensis have been on view at the Botanic Gardens and some notes on them may prove of interest. Both were females trapped at S'tiawan in Perak. The biggest and evidently the oldest measured 4 feet 8 inches at the shoulder with a length of 7 feet 4 inches to the root of the tail which was 22 inches long. The hide is covered every- where with stiff black hairs, longest on the ears. In both the front horn was very short, a mere conical process, and the only trace of the second horn was a small rough plate in the older one, and even that was absent in the second one. The animals were both of a quiet and inoffensive disposition, allowing themselves to be stroked and patted and readily fed from the hand although they had been quite recently caught. They ate sweet potatoes, sugar cane, champedak, fruits and leaves, and the leaves of the Mahang Putih (Macaranga hypoleuca) and various species of Ficus, especially the Waringin (Ficus Benjamina) and when they wanted food call for it with a kind of whistle or squeak much out of proportion to the size of the animal. They made no other noise except by snorting now and then but in the forests, what I suppose to be the same species makes a loud neighing sound. These animals in captivity are very quiet for most of the day remaining immersed in a wallow of liquid mud and thickly coated with it after the manner of a buffalo. During the evening and night they are much more active roaming up and down the enclosure. They drink remarkably slowly and only a small quantity at a time, eat very large quantities of food, and pass the excreta always in exactly the same spot and almost always at night as the tapir does.
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The Sumatran rhinoceros
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