English: Sumatran Rhinoceros; French: Rhinocéros de Sumatra; Chinese: Sai Goo; Indonesian: Badak raya, cula satu; Kheh: Sai Ngew; Malay: Badak sumbu, Badak ker-bau, Badak himpit; Sundanese: Badak berendem, cula dua.
Former distribution: Assam, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo; India and Bangladesh.
Present distribution: As formerly, but only in small isolated populations.
Behaviour: Preferred habitat: tropical rain forests, dry deciduous and swamp forests; they live singly or in pairs; typical browsers of leaves and shoots and are both diurnal and nocturnal. Predators on the pups are tigers and leopards.
Population status: Endangered. Total estimation about 250-300. Sumatra 100-150; Malaysia 80-100; Borneo 50.
Brief notes:
Body weight: Up to 800 kg
Head and body length: 250-315 cm
Tail length: 30-40 cm
Shoulder height: 125-140 cm
Gestation period: 7-8 months
Maximum age: 32 years
Trophy: Horn length: Record RW’s: 32 1/8″; circumference 17 3/8″, British Museum.
Remarks: The establishment of several national parks in the countries concerned helped to protect these rare animals, and populations increased slowly. Unfortunately, uncontrolled hunting and poaching is still going on due to the high prices for the horns which are sold as aphrodisiacs. These rhinoceroces are legally protected in all countries.
