The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
Size of a track of an old male: 28 x 29 cm (F.J. Appelman). The rather precious drawings which I had of the rhinoceros and Sumatran elephant were lost, and I can only give a single sketch of the spoor of this rhinoceros made in very soft soil. It would certainly be desirable if a visitor to Udjung Kulon could make another one sometimes. A camera would be most useful. Several dimesions of prints could then be collected. According to A.R.W. Kerkhoven, the rhino male is generally smaller than the female. The exceptional size (and depth), and consequently the long preservation of the tracks on good soil, can give the impression that the animal is numerous in certain areas, while in reality maybe just a single animal has passed the area several tims. Therefore the measurement of the tracks is very important to distinguish different individuals. The tracks are rarely as clear as one would expect from such a large animal. The condition of the soil is a deciding factor. On dry ground, which includes the rhino's paths in dry season, and where there are lots of dry leaves, one usually only finds incomplete prints of the three toenails, and sometimes even nothing. On stony ground and in long, dry grass, finding tracks is just about impossible and one has to search where the animal leaves the rocks.
The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
The `rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
How far one individual may wander, I don't know, but they are at least several day's marches (for a human, through difficult terrain!).
The dung resembles horse droppings, but the balls are much larger (like tennis balls) and contain much dry woody matter. The rhino likes to deposit these on certain places in the forest, which are therefore covered in dung. Appelman, who followed a rhino in South Tasikmalaja in 1933, said that the smell of urine and the pyramid-shaped dungpiles would point at the animal.
The exceptional size (and depth), and consequently the long preservation of the tracks on good soil, can give the impression that the animal is numerous in certain areas, while in reality maybe just a single animal has passed the area several tims. Therefore the measurement of the tracks is very important to distinguish different individuals.
Size of a track of an old male: 28 x 29 cm (F.J. Appelman). The rather precious drawings which I had of the rhinoceros and Sumatran elephant were lost, and I can only give a single sketch of the spoor of this rhinoceros made in very soft soil. It would certainly be desirable if a visitor to Udjung Kulon could make another one sometimes. A camera would be most useful. Several dimesions of prints could then be collected. According to A.R.W. Kerkhoven, the rhino male is generally smaller than the female. The exceptional size (and depth), and consequently the long preservation of the tracks on good soil, can give the impression that the animal is numerous in certain areas, while in reality maybe just a single animal has passed the area several tims. Therefore the measurement of the tracks is very important to distinguish different individuals. The tracks are rarely as clear as one would expect from such a large animal. The condition of the soil is a deciding factor. On dry ground, which includes the rhino's paths in dry season, and where there are lots of dry leaves, one usually only finds incomplete prints of the three toenails, and sometimes even nothing. On stony ground and in long, dry grass, finding tracks is just about impossible and one has to search where the animal leaves the rocks.
The 'rhino paths' are well-known even today, which are still found, possibly further dug in through other means, on many mountains in the western half of Java, like on the Salak, Gedeh, Goentoer, Patoeha, Tjeremai and Slamet. The rhinos walk around the bends of the paths up to the highest tops and helped climbers with these paths (cf. Junghuhn).
In general one cannot expect more than one animal in a certain place, except for a mother and young and of course, exceptionally, when a male and female come together.
The dung resembles horse droppings, but the balls are much larger (like tennis balls) and contain much dry woody matter. The rhino likes to deposit these on certain places in the forest, which are therefore covered in dung. Appelman, who followed a rhino in South Tasikmalaja in 1933, said that the smell of urine and the pyramid-shaped dungpiles would point at the animal.
The rhino likes to take mud baths. He has certain 'pangoejangans' which it visits regularly, and where formerly hunters would wait for it to appear. Near such a wallow all bushes and the grass are covered with mud and this mudcover can extend further afield because the mud is rubbed off the animal unto bush and alang alang after the animal leaves the wallow.
According to A.R.W. Kerkhoven, the rhino male is generally smaller than the female.
Java. Size of a track of an old male: 28 x 29 cm (F.J. Appelman).
