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Sumatran Rhinoceros

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Photo: Charles W. Hardin — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Sumatran Rhinoceros appears on the Exotic Wildlife Association species list as Rhinoceros (Sumatran) — ESA: Endangered; CITES: Appendix I. [1]

Native range

Sumatran rhinoceroses ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis ) had a historic range that included Assam, Burma and Indochina to Malaysia, and areas in northern Sumatra and northwestern Borneo. [2]

Size

600–1,000 kg (ADW range). [2]

Lifespan

32.8 years (captivity, range); 30 to 45 years (wild, typical); 35 years (wild, average). [2]

Breeding & gestation

Gestation 15–16 months; offspring per birth: 1; females mature at 6 to 7 years. [2]

Temperament & social structure

Not verified from a primary source for this page.

Habitat needs

Sumatran rhinoceroses live in upland forests around Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, at elevations up to 2,000 m above sea level. ADW biomes: savanna or grassland, forest. [2]

Where they thrive (Texas / US)

Not verified from a primary source for this page.

Space per animal

No verified species-specific stocking rate was found. Carrying capacity depends on rainfall, range condition and competing grazers—get a range/stocking assessment (NRCS or Texas A&M AgriLife).

Housing & shelter

Not verified from a primary source for this page.

Fencing

No primary-source fencing standard was verified for this species; get containment advice from an experienced keeper or veterinarian.

Natural diet

Sumatran rhinoceroses are browsers, eating small trees, shrubs, and herbs. Sumatran rhinoceroses do not have specific periods of feeding; they alternate the times that they feed depending on when they are traveling. ADW diet type: herbivore, folivore, lignivore. [2]

Feed & supplementation

No verified species-specific diet formulation was found for this page; follow a veterinarian or nutritionist.

Common health issues & parasites

No verified species-specific health list for this page; consult a veterinarian experienced with this species.

Vet care & vaccination

No vaccines are labeled for this species in the US; any vaccination protocol is extra-label and should be set by a veterinarian experienced with exotic hoofstock. (No specific protocol was verified for this page.)

Handling & capture

Capture myopathy—muscle damage from pursuit, restraint and transport—is often fatal in wild ungulates. Minimize chase time and stress, avoid hot conditions, use appropriate chemical immobilization by a vet, and release/unload quickly. [3]

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. [4]

Legal notes (general info, not legal advice)

Listed Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (per the EWA list; confirm current status on USFWS ECOS). Interstate sale or transport of ESA-listed animals requires federal authorization. CITES: Appendix I. General information, not legal advice. USDA APHIS licensing under the Animal Welfare Act applies to dealers and exhibitors; check USDA and your state wildlife and animal-health agencies before buying, moving or selling. [1][5][6]

Sources

  1. Exotic Wildlife Association – Endangered Species List (ESA status & CITES appendix)
  2. Animal Diversity Web (Univ. of Michigan) – Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
  3. Breed et al. 2019, Understanding capture myopathy (Conservation Physiology, PMC6612673)
  4. IUCN Red List – Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (assessment page)
  5. USFWS ECOS – Listed Animals (current ESA status)
  6. USDA APHIS – Animal Welfare Act licensing & registration

Figures are taken from the numbered sources; items marked "not verified" could not be confirmed from a primary source and are intentionally left blank. Husbandry guidance is general—confirm with an exotic-animal veterinarian.