Neonatal Milestones, Behavior and Growth Rate of Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) Calves Born and Bred in Captivity

Abstract

The birth of Sumatran rhino calves at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden offered a unique opportunity to study early development and cow-calf behavior in this elusive, critically endangered species. Study goals were to: (1) record developmental milestones of newborn calves; (2) characterize cow and calf behavior during the first year following birth; (3) compare trends in the behavioral development of a male vs. female calf; and (4) record weight gain and footprint size throughout the first year. In addition to recording eight neonatal milestones, more than 450 hr of behavioral data were collected on each of the two calves (one male and one female) and their dam during the first 12 months of life. Neonatal milestones were achieved within 24 hr of birth with the exception of first defecation, which occurred at 16-18 days. Although nursing bouts decreased slightly in the second half of the year (from once every 90 min to once every 2 hr), they continued to occur frequently throughout the day and night. Therefore, calves grew rapidly from approximately 33 kg at birth to 400 kg at 12 months. Average daily weight gain for the first week was approximately 2.0 kg, whereas average daily weight gain for the remaining 12 months was slight (<1 kg) and did not differ between calves. Eating and resting occupied 70-80% of the Sumatran rhino cow and calves' time and no gender biases in either maternal investment or developmental parameters were noted. Finally, footprint measurements proved valuable for estimating calf age.

Time spent suckling is affected by different social organization in three zebra species

“…In line with most studies on ungulates (Gauthier & Barrette, ; Byers & Moodie, ; Green, ; Lent, ; Birgersson & Ekvall, ; Alley, Fordham & Minot, ; Špinka & Algers, ; Das et al ., ; Dalezsczyk, ), we found that suckling bout duration and frequency decreased with increasing age of the foal in all three observed zebra species. However, in several ungulate species (cattle, impala Aepyceros melampus , Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis ), suckling bout duration is not affected by the age of the young (Lewandrowski & Hurnik, ; Mooring & Rubin, ; Plair, Reinhart & Roth, ) or even increased with an increasing age of the young (eland Taurotragus oryx ; Underwood, ; common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius ; Pluháček & Bartošová, ). Therefore, we suggest that suckling bout duration seems to be better indicator of offspring needs than suckling frequency.…”

Sexual maturation in the sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

“…Both calves were weighed daily starting the day after they were born, and the first year of weight data for both calves has been published in detail [Plair et al, ]. Daily body weights continued to be recorded for the female calf throughout the study.…”

Habitat utilization of the Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni) in Kutai Barat forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…Numerous records reveal that the Sumatran rhinos mainly occur in coastal swamp forest, lowland, and mountain forest (van Strien 1985;Pusparini et al 2015). According to Plair et al (2011), the Sumatran rhino is a solitary species. However, this species could occasionally be found in a small group consisting of two or more individuals (van Strien 1985;Plair et al 2011).…”

“…According to Plair et al (2011), the Sumatran rhino is a solitary species. However, this species could occasionally be found in a small group consisting of two or more individuals (van Strien 1985;Plair et al 2011). The Sumatran rhinos appear to exhibit habitat preferences influenced by food abundance, topography, the source of minerals and water, and human presence (van Strien 1974;van Strien 1985;Pusparini et al 2015;Kretzschmar et al 2016).…”