Rhinoceros are usually associated with the African savannah, but interestingly there are species which also occur in rainforests in Indonesia. The one-horned Java Rhino and the two-horned Sumatran Rhino are the rarest rhinos on earth.
Here’s a picture of a rainforest rhinoceros from one of the many camera traps Richard Ness has had set:
There are only a few hundred Java and Sumatran rhinos remaining in the wild.
Interestingly in Africa, white rhino numbers increased from about 200 individuals in 1904 to over 11,000 in 2004 thanks to conservation programs. In contrast, black rhino numbers dropped from perhaps 60,000 sometime before 1970 to may be 15,000 in 2004 no thanks to poaching.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
While I have provided the photo…. the man on the ground who is a great environmentalist that does make a difference is a fantastic individual by the name of Neil Franklin.
He is a dedicated man who I have worked with and who captured the camera trap shot for all your readers to enjoy.
Dr. Neil Franklin, Ph.D.
Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program
http://wild-tiger.blogspot.com
Neil has done more to protect wildlife in Indonesia then any one I have met in my 20 years in this country..
Hats off to people like him… He does make a difference…
Rgds- Rick
By some nice serendipity, today I discovered an early reference to this creature. The Royal Society has recently its archives (back to 1665) online with free access until December sometime.
“A Description of a double horned rhinoceros of Sumatra” by Mr William Bell .. Communicated by Sir Joseph Banks (remember him ?), Read 10 Jan 1793.
The PDF file of the full article (7 pages, incl 3 of illustration) is at http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/media/16ljtwygugj7dyvnyd9l/contributions/8/3/2/8/8328724392527405.pdf
That just might contain a Session ID so here’s the home page with a search tool (and search for “Sumatra” and “Banks”) – http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(jfnkmrmo3o5dvtvm0hdub035)/app/home/main.asp
cheers
Just checked – free access to the Royal Society archives until “end of December 2006”.
“Following this period it will continue to be free as part of any of the Royal Society’s new journal subscription packages.” (see http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=1373)