Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
As far as can be ascertained the Javan Rhinoceros is now extinct in India and Burma.
Till the end of the last century the range of this species extended from the hill tracts of Assam, through the hill ranges of Tippera and Chittagong, into Arakan and Burma.
At the present time its survival in India is doubtful.
In Nepal it is found only in the country to the east of Gandak River known as Chitawan.
In 1960 the number of animals living in this Sanctuary was estimated at `between two dozen and four dozen.'
Till the end of the last century the range of this species extended from the hill tracts of Assam, through the hill ranges of Tippera and Chittagong, into Arakan and Burma.
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
Formerly extensively distributed in the Gangetic plain today it is restricted to parts of Nepal and West Bengal in the north, the Dooars, and Assam.
Genda
Formerly extensively distributed in the Gangetic plain
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
Till the end of the last century the range of this species extended from the hill tracts of Assam, through the hill ranges of Tippera and Chittagong, into Arakan and Burma.
In Assam in isolated areas of the plains.
The greater part of the body is covered with bristles varying from red-brown to black. The hairy fringes of the ears and the body are lost with age.
The horn is formed of a closely matted mass of horny fibre issuing from the skin. It has no connection with the skull, although a boss of bone in the skull may serve as its foundation.
Race of Dicerorhinus sumatrensis in India: lasiotis (Buckland).
The Twohorned Rhinoceros, like the Smaller Onehomed has a preference for forested hill tracts where it wanders up to considerable elevations. A sufficiency of shade and a good supply of water are essential to its habitat.
As far as can be ascertained the Javan Rhinoceros is now extinct in India and Burma.
Though it prefers swamp and grass the Great Indian Onehorned Rhinoceros is also found in wood jungle up ravines and low hills.
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
Kyan
What was believed to be the last surviving animal in Malaya was shot for the preservation of its entire remains in a museum in America. It is possible though not very likely that the species may still exist in some of the more remote and ill-explored tracts of the Malay Peninsula.
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The upheaval of the War and the unrest which followed it have left a few survivors in Burma, in Shwe-U-Daung, Arakan, the Pegu Yomas, Kahilu, Yuzal in the Uyu drainage, and the Tenasserim Peninsula.
Gainda
Gargadan
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis : estimated number 21-45.
The horns grow throughout life and if lost are re-produced.
Three species of rhinoceros are found within our limits. Rhinoceros unicornis and its relative Rhinoceros sondaicus have an obscure genealogical history. No representatives of these true and typical rhinoceroses have been discovered anywhere but in south-eastern Asia. Their remains are not found in the more ancient Siwalik beds. But they appear with relative suddenness in the uppermost and more recent beds in the form of two species known as the Siwalik Rhinoceros (R. sivalensis) and R. paloeindicus, the ancient rhinoceros of India.
Three species of rhinoceros are found within our limits. Rhinoceros unicornis and its relative Rhinoceros sondaicus have an obscure genealogical history. No representatives of these true and typical rhinoceroses have been discovered anywhere but in south-eastern Asia. Their remains are not found in the more ancient Siwalik beds. But they appear with relative suddenness in the uppermost and more recent beds in the form of two species known as the Siwalik Rhinoceros (R. sivalensis) and R. paloeindicus, the ancient rhinoceros of India.
The skin in all the living forms is either thinly clad with hair or naked, and in all the Indian species the heavy hide in places is thrown into deep folds. The skin of this massive creature is divided into great shields by heavy folds before and behind the shoulders and in front of the thighs. The fold in front of the shoulders is not continued right across the back, a distinctive character of this rhinoceros. On the flanks. shoulders, and hindquarters, the skin is studded with masses of rounded tubercles. With its grotesque build, long boat-shaped head, its folds of armour, and its tuber- culated hide, the animal looks like a monster of some bygone age.
Kyan-shaw
The greater part of the body is covered with bristles varying from red-brown to black. The hairy fringes of the ears and the body are lost with age.
Its food consists chiefly of grass.
In the cold weather and rains they visit the low country coming down in search of particular foods. They are not grazers but browse on twigs and shoots, and are very partial to fallen fruit, wild mangoes, citrous fruits, and figs.
Circumference11 ft (335 cm) behind the withers
The Smaller Onehorned Rhinoceros is more an inhabitant of tree forest than of grass land. Its usual habitat is forested hill country where it has been found at elevations as high as 7000 ft (2135 cm.) above sea-level. The feeding habits of this rhinoceros and of the twohorned rhinoceros described below have profoundly affected their distribution. Being able to live on a great variety of forest trees and shrubs these animals have extended their range through the great forest tract reaching from Assam and Bengal through Burma and the Malay countries.
The animal is solitary as a rule, though several may occupy the same patch of jungle.
Breeding takes place at all times of the year. Mr. E. P. Gee gives four records of these animals observed mating in the wild state. All four incidents occurred between the end-of February and the end of April. He also records the instance of a newly born female found dead on the 22nd of April.
Tracks lead off in all directions from these wallows. They present the appearance of large tunnels hollowed through the dense undergrowth. Unlike the elephant, a rhinoceros does not break through the jungle but burrows its way through the dense tangle.
In the cold weather and rains they visit the low country coming down in search of particular foods. They are not grazers but browse on twigs and shoots, and are very partial to fallen fruit, wild mangoes, citrous fruits, and figs.
The various species of rhinoceros, all now confined to the Old World, differ remarkably from one another in structure. As a result of migrations during past epochs into different habitats and climates, and into new feeding grounds to which they became appear to have become adapted, the various species appear to have become distinct at a very early period of their history. A comparison of the remains of numerous extinct forms with those now living indicates seven main lines of descent and evolution from which lesser branches have diverged. Though these animals are externally similar, they are thus really very far apart both in history and anatomy: even the two living African rhinoceroses probably separated from each other and became distinct species a million years ago.
In distinction to the Great Indian Onehorned Rhinoceros the fold of skin before the shoulder is carried right across the back in this animal. The hide is marked all over with a curious mosaic-like pattern.
The skin in all the living forms is either thinly clad with hair or naked, and in all the Indian species the heavy hide in places is thrown into deep folds. The skin of this massive creature is divided into great shields by heavy folds before and behind the shoulders and in front of the thighs. The fold in front of the shoulders is not continued right across the back, a distinctive character of this rhinoceros. On the flanks. shoulders, and hindquarters, the skin is studded with masses of rounded tubercles. With its grotesque build, long boat-shaped head, its folds of armour, and its tuber- culated hide, the animal looks like a monster of some bygone age.
Its food consists chiefly of grass.
Its low-crowned grinding teeth indicate that it is a browser, indulging less in grazing than the Great Indian Onehorred Rhinoceros, whose armoury of high-crowned grinding teeth are peculiarly adapted to the mastication of grass.
Its low-crowned grinding teeth indicate that it is a browser, indulging less in grazing than the Great Indian Onehorred Rhinoceros, whose armoury of high-crowned grinding teeth are peculiarly adapted to the mastication of grass.
In distinction to the Great Indian Onehorned Rhinoceros the fold of skin before the shoulder is carried right across the back in this animal. The hide is marked all over with a curious mosaic-like pattern.
The female attains sexual maturity in 4 years and the male when 7 years old.
Gestation period 16 months
A pair will frequent a given area for a time and then move off, their movements being affected by the water supply.
The night and early morning are spent in wandering about and feeding, the hot hours of the day in rest in some cool and shaded spot.
In Nepal the flesh and the blood of the rhinoceros is considered highly acceptable to the manes. High caste Hindus and most Gurkhas offer libation of the animal's blood after entering its disembowelled body. On ordinary Sraddh days the libation of water and milk is poured from a cup carved from its horn. The urine is considered antiseptic and is hung in a vessel at the principal door as a charm against ghosts, evil spirits, and diseases. These beliefs connected with the rhinoceros are prevalent in varying forms in Burma, Siam, and China. They set a great value upon the animal and provide the main reason for its persecution.
Collections of dung found in particular places reveal a habit similar to that noticed with the Great Indian One horned Rhinoceros.
They enter streams by night and also during the hot hours of the day. In suitable spots there are regular wallows or mud-baths in which the huge creatures roll much as buffaloes and pigs do. As a result of this habit their bodies are always well coated with mud. They visit the wallows singly, or a bull and a cow may be found together.
In Europe, during the Middle Ages, its horn was generally believed to have peculiar medicinal virtues.
The Asiatic Twohorned Rhinoceros (Didermocerus sumatrensis) was on the other hand widely distributed in the past. It was quite abundant in the Siwalik Hills in Pliocene times. It was a geological period when these animals, favoured by a genial climate, inhabited a broad forest belt which stretched from the east coast of England southward and eastward across southern France and northern Italy to India.
Three species of rhinoceros are found within our limits. Rhinoceros unicornis and its relative Rhinoceros sondaicus have an obscure genealogical history. No representatives of these true and typical rhinoceroses have been discovered anywhere but in south-eastern Asia. Their remains are not found in the more ancient Siwalik beds. But they appear with relative suddenness in the uppermost and more recent beds in the form of two species known as the Siwalik Rhinoceros (R. sivalensis) and R. paloeindicus, the ancient rhinoceros of India.
A male may reach over 6 ft 9180 cm) at the shoulder. Average height is about 5 ft 8 in (170 cm).
Male: height at shoulder, 4 ft. 4 ? in. (135 cm.)
Little is known about their breeding habits but it is known that the young remain with the mother to a fairly advanced age.
From observation of animals in zoos it would appear that the male undergoes a period of 'heat' as does the female, and these periods must coincide before mating can take place.
Old bulls measure about 5 ft. 10 in. (180 cm.) at the shoulder.
Male: girth behind the withers, a little over 7 ft. (215 cm.).
