Borneo Sumatran rhinoceros

A small pocket of rhinos on a very big island

Common Name		Borneo Sumatran rhinoceros; Rhinocéros de Sumatra(Fr); Rinoceronte de Sumatra(Sp)
Scientific Name		Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni
Habitat		Dense highland and lowland tropical and sub-tropical forests
Location		Northern Borneo
Status		IUCN: Critically Endangered (CR A1bcd, C2a, D) CITES: Appendix I
Population		Perhaps fewer than 25

Background

Information awaiting review.

The Sumatran rhinoceros subspecies, D.s. harrissoni, once widespread on Borneo, is now confirmed to exist only in the northeast state of Sabah (Malaysia) and is possibly extinct from former habitat in the Bornean states of Sarawak (Malaysia) and in Kalimantan (Indonesia).

A 2005 survey in the interior of Sabah found evidence of at least 13 rhinos, and scattered individuals are found in other parts of the state.

Physical Description

The Sumatran, or hairy, rhino is the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino species with two horns. Another characteristic are the wrinkles around its eyes. The front horn is generally under 25cm long, while the posterior horn is usually quite small and often no more than a hump. Calves are born with a dense covering of hair which turns reddish brown in young adults and becomes sparse, bristly and almost black in older animals.

Size
The body length ranges from 2 to 3 m and usually from 1 to 1.5 m in height. Body weight has been estimated at 600-950 kg.

Colour
The skin of adults is reddish-brown.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Dense highland and lowland tropical and sub-tropical forests

Biogeographic realm
Indo-Malayan

Range States
Malaysia (Sabah)

Geographical Location
Northern Borneo

Ecological Region
Borneo Lowland and Montane Forests