(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
Recently the sighting of a rare and highly endangered species of rhino – the Sumatran Rhino had raised hopes of preventing this species from becoming extinct. Sadly, this rare rhino had died weeks later, after the sighting.
Who exacty is the Sumatran Rhino?
Standing at a height between 1 to 1.5m tall (3 to 5 ft), the Sumatran Rhino weighs in at between 600 to 950kg (1300 to 2000 pounds). They can grow up to 2 to 3m (6.5 to 9.5 ft) in body length.
They are unique in that they have two horns. In fact, they are the only two-horned rhino in the Asian region! The front horn is usually larger, between 25 to 79 cm (10 to 13 inches) long. The second horn, usually smaller, is less than 10cm (3 inches) long.
(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
The dense tropical forests in Sumatra and central Borneo is their home as their name suggests. They feed on a highly varied diet, eating more than 100 plant species! Their lifespan is around 35 to 40 years. Female rhinos are pregnant with their offsprings for about 15 to 16 months before delivering. Usually the mothers give birth to a calf once every 3 years.
(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
Currently, fewer than 100 Sumatran Rhinos are said to be surviving in Sumatra. There are even fewer in Sabah, Malaysia, only about 10 or less!
It was even declared extinct in Vietnam in year 2010!
This recent loss just marks the arduous journey of preventing the extinction of Sumatran Rhinos. Another one bites the dust.
