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.
It is well known that two species of Rhinoceros occur in the Malay Peninsula, the Javanese one-horned species, R. javanicus, and the two horned R sumatrensis, but though many of these animals have been recorded as having been trapped or shot in various parts of the Native States, there are no records as to where the different species have been obtained and it is very seldom that any portions of the specimens have been preserved.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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.
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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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 ate sweet potatoes [etc] 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.
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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. The hide is covered everywhere with stiff black hairs, longest on the ears.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. The hide is covered everywhere with stiff black hairs, longest on the ears.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. The hide is covered everywhere with stiff black hairs, longest on the ears.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. The hide is covered everywhere with stiff black hairs, longest on the ears.
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.
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.
Singapore, Botanic Gardens. 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.
