Sumatran Rhino 28/05/2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: ,

SUMATRAN RHINO

 

For: Preliminary


 

News Flash

Malaysia’s last male Sumatran rhino dies. The Sumatran rhino, the smallest species of rhinoceros, was declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015.

  • Wildlife experts estimate that only about 30 to 80 Sumatran rhinos remain in the world, mostly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and on the Indonesian side of Borneo.
  • Their isolation, caused by habitat loss and poaching, means they rarely breed and may go extinct in a matter of decades.
  • Since 2011, Malaysia has tried to breed the species in captivity through in vitro fertilization, but without success.

 

Sumatran Rhino

  • It is also known as the hairy rhinoceros or Asian two-horned rhinoceros.
  • It is the smallest rhinoceros.
  • The Sumatran rhinoceros lives in both lowland and highland secondary rainforest, swamps, and cloud forests.
  • It has two horns; the larger is the nasal horn, while the other horn is typically a stub.
  • The larger nasal horn is also known as the anterior horn; the smaller posterior horn is known as the frontal horn.
  • A coat of reddish-brown hair covers most of the Sumatran rhino’s body.
  • In historical times, they lived in southwest China, particularly in Sichuan. They are now critically endangered.
  • The Sumatran rhino is a mostly solitary animal except for courtship and offspring-rearing.
  • It is the most vocal rhino species and also communicates through marking soil with its feet, twisting saplings into patterns, and leaving excrement.

 

Source: Indian Express

 

You can follow us on LinkedIn and for more updates related to UPSC IAS Preparation, Like our Facebook Page and subscribe our Diligent IAS Youtube Channel 

Also Read Related Daily News