2 mounted skins. Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, USA
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. A small number are present in the Shwe-u-Daung Sanctuary in the Mogok division of the Katha District where proper protection may save this species from extinction in Burmese limits.
it also occurred in Assam from which province it is now practically exterminated.
At the present time a few inhabit the forests of Lower Tenasserim and the hill tracts about Myitkyina, the Arrakan Hills and the Pegu Yomas.
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. At the present time a few inhabit the forests of Lower Tenasserim and the hill tracts about Myitkyina, the Arrakan Hills and the Pegu Yomas.
The food consists chiefly of grass. In Nepal during the rains Rhinoceros frequently enter cultivation.
The Two-horned Rhinoceros was once fairly common throughout Burma
All the living rhinoceroses are included in a single genus. Their massive build, the thickness and solidity of their bones, their short stumpy legs each furnished with three toes are some of the family characters. The skin in all the living forms is either thinly clad with hair or naked and in all the Indian species the heay hide in places is thrown into deep folds. The nasal bones are enlarged to serve as a support for a single or double horns. When two horns are present they are situated one behind the other in the middle line of the snout. 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 supporting boss of bone in the skull may serve as its foundation. The horns grow throughout life and if lost are reproduced.
The skin of this massive creature is divided into great shields by heavy folds before and behind the shoulder and in front of the thighs. In this Rhinoceros the folding of the skin in front of the shoulders is not continued right across the back. The skin on the flanks, shoulders and bind quarters, is covered with a mass of rounded. tubercles. With his grotesque shape, long boat-shaped head, his folds of armour, his scaly hide he looks like a monster of some bye-gone age.
In parts of Assam, where it is still found, strict preservation has temporarily saved it from extermination.
At the present time a few inhabit the forests of Lower Tenasserim and the hill tracts about Myitkyina, the Arrakan Hills and the Pegu Yomas.
The average height of a well-grown animal is about 5 ft. 8 in. with a girth of 11 ft. behind the shoulder.
In Nepal, the Indian Rhinoceros is found only in the country to the east of the Gandak river known as Chitawan where strict preservation by the Nepal Government has saved it from extinction.
At the present time a few inhabit the forests of Lower Tenasserim and the hill tracts about Myitkyina, the Arrakan Hills and the Pegu Yomas.
The various species of rhinooceroses, 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, into new feeding grounds to which they became 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 7 distinct lines of descent and evolution from which lesser branches were given off. Though these animals are externally similar they are thus really very far apart both in history and anatomy: even the two living African probably separated from each other and became distinct species a million ears ago. Three species of Rhinoceros are found within our limits. The Great One-horned Rliinoceros (Rhinoceros indicus) and its relative, the Smaller One-horned or Javan Rhinoceros (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 Sivalik beds. But they appear with relative suddenness in the uppermost and more recent beds in the form of two species known as the Sivalik Rhinoceros (R. sivalensis) and R. palaeindicus, the ancient Rliinoceros of India. The Asiatic two-horned Rhinoceros (R. sumatrensis) was on the other hand widely distributed in the past. It was quite abundant in the Sivalik 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 southwards and eastward across Southern France and North Italy to India.
In the cold weather find rains they visit the low country coming down in search of particular foods. They are not grazers but browse on twigs, shoots and are very partial to fallen fruit: wild mangoes, citrous fruits and figs.
The horns of the Indian Rhinoceros never compare with those of the African. The record from Assam measures 24 in., 15-16 in. is a good average length. The males may be recognised from the females by a shorter and thicker horn blunted by frequent combats. The female's horn is sharper and longer.
The Two-horned Rhinoceros, like the Lesser One-horned species 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. A pair will frequent a given area for a time and. then move off, their movements being affected by the water supply.
Though it prefers swamp and grass the Great Indian Rhinoceros is also found in wood jungle up ravines and low hills.
A pair will frequent a given area for a time and. then move off, their movements being affected by the water supply. They visit the wallows singly or a bull and a cow may be found together.
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 his way through the dense tangle.
In the cold weather find rains they visit the low country coming down in search of particular foods. They are not grazers but browse on twigs, shoots and are very partial to fallen fruit: wild mangoes, citrous fruits and figs.
The food consists chiefly of grass. In Nepal during the rains Rhinoceros frequently enter cultivation.
Breeding takes place at all times of the year.
The skin of this massive creature is divided into great shields by heavy folds before and behind the shoulder and in front of the thighs. In this Rhinoceros the folding of the skin in front of the shoulders is not continued right across the back. The skin on the flanks, shoulders and bind quarters, is covered with a mass of rounded. tubercles. With his grotesque shape, long boat-shaped head, his folds of armour, his scaly hide he looks like a monster of some bye-gone age.
The horns of the Indian Rhinoceros never compare with those of the African. The record from Assam measures 24 in., 15-16 in. is a good average length. The males may be recognised from the females by a shorter and thicker horn blunted by frequent combats. The female's horn is sharper and longer.
The horns of the Indian Rhinoceros never compare with those of the African. The record from Assam measures 24 in., 15-16 in. is a good average length. The males may be recognised from the females by a shorter and thicker horn blunted by frequent combats. The female's horn is sharper and longer.
The animal is solitary as a rule though several may occupy the same patch of jungle.
Many legends and beliefs are attached to this animal. In Europe, daring the Middle Ages its horn was generally believed. to have peculiar medicinal virtues. 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 Sradh 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 form in Burma, Siam and China. They set a great value upon the animal and provide the main reason for its persecution.
Along the numerous rivers which flow through the jungles of the Nepal Terai the rhino has particular. places for dropping its excreta. Mounds so accumulate in places. In approaching these spots a rhinoceros walks backwards and falls an easy victim to poachers.
All the living rhinoceroses are included in a single genus. Their massive build, the thickness and solidity of their bones, their short stumpy legs each furnished with three toes are some of the family characters. The skin in all the living forms is either thinly clad with hair or naked and in all the Indian species the heay hide in places is thrown into deep folds. The nasal bones are enlarged to serve as a support for a single or double horns. When two horns are present they are situated one behind the other in the middle line of the snout. 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 supporting boss of bone in the skull may serve as its foundation. The horns grow throughout life and if lost are reproduced.
In suitable spots there are regular wallows or 'mud baths' in which the huge creatures roll much as buffaloes and pigs do. Aa a result of this habit their bodies are always well coated with mud. Tracks lead off in all directions from these 'wallows'.
The Great Indian Rhinoceros, probably the largest of all living Rhinoceroses may reach over 6 ft. at the shoulder. The average height of a well-grown animal is about 5 ft. 8 in. with a girth of 11 ft. behind the shoulder.
A fully developed calf taken from the uterus measured 4 ft. 1 in. and scaled 120 lbs.
The period of gestation is given as 17 to 18 months. In Nepal it is generally believed to be one year.
Little is known about their breeding habits but it is known that the young remain with the mother to a fairly advanced age.
All the living rhinoceroses are included in a single genus.
A fully developed calf taken from the uterus measured 4 ft. 1 in. and scaled 120 lbs.
