Songlike vocalizations from the Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

Abstract

There are only 200 to 300 Sumatran rhinos (Dicermoceros sumatrensis) left in the world. Sumatran rhinos are solitary, and their native habitat is dense tropical forest and mountain moss forest. Three Sumatran rhinos, housed at the Cincinnati Zoo, were recorded using Statham Radio microphones and Sony TCD-D8 DAT recorders. Sumatran rhinos produce sounds described as eeps, 70 Hz–4 kHz (57–92 dB); whales, 100 Hz–3.2 kHz (87 dB); and whistle-blows, 17 Hz–8 kHz (100 dB). The whistle-blows contain high level infrasound that would be advantageous for use in the rhino’s forest habitat. Some Sumatran rhino vocalizations resemble humpback whale signals.