Sumatran Rhinoceros Research Articles

Landless Farmers, Sly Opportunists, and Manipulated Voters: The Squatters of the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Indonesia)

The Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in southern Sumatra (Indonesia) has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 2004. Home to tigers, elephants, and rare Sumatran rhinos, the Park is also home to numerous squatters since the early 1970s. Part of the Park was restored after forcible evictions in the 1980s. However, since the end of General Suharto's authoritarian rule in 1998, the number of squatters has been on the increase. This paper provides for the first time a reliable estimation of the number of people encroaching in the Park and presents a profile of the various kinds of squatters living in and around the Park. It shows that all encroachments are not alike, nor are the squatters. Poor landless migrants side with opportunists taking advantage of weak law enforcement, while local politicians try to build a constituency by backing illegal activities in the Park. As a consequence, any action to salvage the Park will have to take into account the complexity of the political ecology, policy environment, and socio-economic nature of each encroachment.

Attempted in Vitro Maturation and Fertilization of Postmortem Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) Oocytes

A study was conducted opportunistically to evaluate the potential of rescuing immature oocytes from the ovaries of the Sumatran rhinoceros postmortem. Recovered oocytes (n = 30) were placed in maturation culture for 36 hr and inseminated with frozen-thawed homologous spermatozoa. After culture, evaluation of nuclear maturation status revealed that a large number of oocytes were degenerated (n = 21), but nine oocytes were assessed at the germinal vesicle (n = 3), metaphase I (n = 3), and metaphase II (n = 3) stages. Frozen-thawed Sumatran rhinoceros spermatozoa were capable of binding to the zona pellucida of in vitro matured oocytes, but no fertilization or cleavage resulted. In conclusion, relatively large numbers of oocytes can be obtained by ovarian follicular aspiration postmortem in the Sumatran rhinoceros, and some of these oocytes are capable of achieving nuclear maturation in vitro. However, additional studies are required to improve maturation success and achieve fertilization in culture.

Molecular phylogeny and evolution of the Perissodactyla

The evolution of perissodactyls (rhinoceroses, tapirs, and horses) has been well studied primarily because of their extensive fossil record. Nevertheless, controversy persists regarding relationships of some of the extant taxa, reflecting inconsistencies between molecular and morphological studies. Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships of 16 living perissodactyl species by concatenating two mitochondrial and nine nuclear genes, and we estimate their divergence times using a relaxed Bayesian molecular clock approach. Our analyses recovered the monophyly of the suborders Ceratomorpha and Hippomorpha, and the families Rhinoceratidae, Tapiridae, and Equidae. We supported the early divergence of the Indian rhinoceros in the late Oligocene (26 Mya) relative to the Sumatran and African rhinoceroses, and the split of caballine (domestic horse and Przewalski's wild horse) and noncaballine equids (zebras and African and Asiatic asses) in the Pliocene (4 Mya). An important implication of this study is that Equus asinus, the African wild ass was found to be the sister taxon of Asiatic asses and zebras, diverging from the common ancestor with caballine horses 2 Mya. Rates of chromosome rearrangements were also evaluated in perissodactyls, placing a notably high rate of variation amongst equids, particularly within the zebra clade. The robust phylogenetic results presented here are relevant in terms of understanding the evolutionary history of this highly threatened group of mammals. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 1289–1303.

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

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.

Pleistocene and Holocene rhinocerotids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Indochinese Peninsula

Rhinocerotids were abundant and diverse in southern Asia during the Pleistocene and the Holocene epochs, as shown by palaeontological and archaeological discoveries published throughout the last century, whereas the only living rhinoceros in the Indochinese Peninsula is Rhinoceros sondaicus (Cat Loc Reserve, Vietnam). The Pleistocene-Holocene Indochinese rhinocerotid record consists of the extinct species Dicerorhinus gwebinensis (Early Pleistocene, Myanmar) and representatives of the Recent Asian Species Rhinoceros unicornis (Middle-Late Pleistocene), R. sondaicus (Middle Pleistocene-Recent), and Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (Middle Pleistocene-Holocene). This fossil record is synthesized, mapped for Early/Middle/Late Pleistocene and Holocene/Recent times, and then compared with coeval rhinocerotid assemblages from the adjacent areas (South China), subregions (Indian, Sundaic, Philippine, and Wallacean), and region (Palearctic), from a biochronological and biogeographical perspective.

Now or never: what will it take to save the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis from extinction?

AbstractIn 1994 Alan Rabinowitz decried what he regarded as lackadaisical attempts by governments, NGOs and international funding agencies to conserve the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. Sixteen years on it is timely to evaluate whether his warnings were heeded. We review the current conservation status of D. sumatrensis throughout its range and the latest threats and challenges complicating efforts to conserve this species. Recent data from governments, NGOs and researchers indicate that the global population could be as low as 216, a decline from c. 320 estimated in 1995. Based on lessons learnt and expert opinions we call on decision makers to focus on two core strategies for conservation of D. sumatrensis: (1) the translocation of wild individuals from existing small, isolated or threatened forest patches into semi-in situ captive breeding programmes, and (2) a concomitant enhancement of protection and monitoring capacities in priority areas that have established these breeding facilities or have recorded relatively high population estimates and track encounter rates. At least USD 1.2 million is required to implement these strategies annually in four priority areas: Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas National Parks on Sumatra, and Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin Wildlife Reserve on Sabah. Given that conservation funds are rarely secure and D. sumatrensis is still in decline we call on potential donors to help secure and augment existing capacities of organizations in these four priority areas before committing resources to elucidate the status of the species in other areas such as Gunung Leuser and Taman Negara National Parks.

Alkaline phosphatase as an indicator of true ejaculation in the rhinoceros

The objective was to determine if seminal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can serve as an indicator of true ejaculation in the rhinoceros. Concentrations of ALP activity were determined in seminal fractions collected from African black rhinos ( Diceros bicornis), an African white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum), and an Indian rhino ( Rhinoceros unicornis) during electroejaculation. In addition, seminal fractions collected during penile massage of a Sumatran rhino ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) were assessed. Correlations between ALP activity and sperm concentration, fraction pH, and fraction osmolality were evaluated in the Indian rhino and black rhino. Concentrations of ALP activity in rhino ejaculate fractions ranged from < 5 to 11,780 U/L and were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with sperm concentration for both Indian rhino (r = 0.995) and black rhino (r = 0.697), but did not exhibit a strong correlation with either pH or osmolality (P > 0.05). Data were insufficient for establishing meaningful correlation coefficients in the Sumatran rhino and white rhino, but preliminary results were in accordance with findings in the Indian rhino and black rhino. We concluded that ALP was present in rhinoceros semen, likely originated from the epididymides and/or testes, and could serve as a useful tool for assessing the production of ejaculatory versus pre-ejaculatory fluid in the rhinoceros.

Trio under threat: can we secure the future of rhinos, elephants and tigers in Malaysia?

Three of Malaysia’s endangered large mammal species are experiencing contrasting futures. Populations of the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) have dwindled to critically low numbers in Peninsular Malaysia (current estimates need to be revised) and the state of Sabah (less than 40 individuals estimated). In the latter region, a bold intervention involving the translocation of isolated rhinos is being developed to concentrate them into a protected area to improve reproduction success rates. For the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), recently established baselines for Peninsular Malaysia (0.09 elephants/km2 estimated from one site) and Sabah (between 0.56 and 2.15 elephants/km2 estimated from four sites) seem to indicate globally significant populations based on dung count surveys. Similar surveys are required to monitor elephant population trends at these sites and to determine baselines elsewhere. The population status of the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in Peninsular Malaysia, however, remains uncertain as only a couple of scientifically defensible camera-trapping surveys (1.66 and 2.59 tigers/100 km2 estimated from two sites) have been conducted to date. As conservation resources are limited, it may be prudent to focus tiger monitoring and protection efforts in priority areas identified by the National Tiger Action Plan for Malaysia. Apart from reviewing the conservation status of rhinos, elephants and tigers and threats facing them, we highlight existing and novel conservation initiatives, policies and frameworks that can help secure the long-term future of these iconic species in Malaysia.

Immobilization and Intravenous Anesthesia in a Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

This paper reports in detail, for the first time, on two anesthetic procedures performed on a 15-yr-old, 530 kg, adult male Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). The anesthetic procedures were carried out in order to perform semen collection via electro-ejaculation, using well-established methods, and in order to examine and sample bilateral corneal opacities. Anesthesia for the first procedure was induced with a combination of 5 mg (0.0094 mg/kg) butorphanol tartrate and 5 mg (0.0094 mg/kg) detomidine hydrochloride administered intramuscularly. Subsequently, 0.74 mg (0.0014 mg/kg) etorphine and 3 mg (0.0057 mg/kg) acepromazine, with an additional 1.5 mg butorphanol (0.0028 mg/kg) and 1.5 mg (0.0028 mg/kg) detomidine, were administered intramuscularly. The second procedure was carried out using an intramuscular combination of butorphanol (0.019 mg/kg) and detomidine (0.019 mg/kg), followed by etorphine (0.0023 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.009 mg/ kg). During the second procedure, the depth of anesthesia was managed with very small, supplemental intravenous doses of 50 mg ketamine (0.094 mg/kg). Sequential arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated respiratory acidosis with hypoxemia. Heart rate and respiratory rate ranged between 60-74 beats per minute (bpm), and 10-20 breaths per minute, respectively. Reversal after 100 min, with the intravenous administration of 150 mg (0.28 mg/kg) naltrexone and intravenous 20 mg (0.038 mg/kg) atipamezole, was uneventful and rapid, with the animal standing after 2 min. This combination provides satisfactory general anesthesia in this critically endangered species and will facilitate veterinary management of this species in captivity.

A comprehensive phylogeny of extant horses, rhinos and tapirs (Perissodactyla) through data combination

We present the first phylogenies to include all extant species of Perissodactyla (oddtoed hoofed mammals) and the recently extinct quagga (Equus quagga). Two independent data sets were examined; one based on multiple genes and analyzed using both supertree and supermatrix approaches, and a second being a supertree constructed from trees collected from the scientific literature. All methods broadly confirmed the traditional view of perissodactyl interfamily relationships, with Equidae (¼ Hippomorpha) forming the sister-group to the clade Rhinocerotidae þ Tapiridae (¼ Ceratomorpha). The contentious affinity of the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is resolved in favour of it forming a clade with the two Asian rhinos (genus Rhinoceros). However, no data set or tree-building method managed to satisfactorily resolve the historically contentious relationships among extant equids; little agreement appears among the different trees for this group. In general, both the supertree and supermatrix approaches performed equally well, but both were hindered by the current paucity of data (e.g. no single gene has been sequenced to date for all 17 species) and its patchy distribution within Equidae. More data, both molecular and morphological, are required for all species to resolve the poorly supported nodes.

Early Pleistocene Dicerorhinus sumatrensis remains from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave, Guangxi, China

The Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave is very famous for its rich mammalian fauna and Gigantopithecus fossils. The Gigantopithecus Cave Fauna has been regarded as the typical Early Pleistocene fauna in South China. The majority of the fossils unearthed has been studied and published during the past decades. The only group remaining unpublished is the rhinoceros, which is studied in this paper. The rhino materials available today are only mandibles and lower cheek teeth. The dimensions of the tooth rows and the isolated teeth fall well within the range of the recent Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. Therefore, the rhino fossils from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave can be referred to this living species. The reduced lower incisors and the U-shaped lingual contour of the mandible also support this taxonomic determination. The rhino materials from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave represent the earliest known record of this species and the smallest Pleistocene rhinocerotid in China.

Peter Sercombe and Bernard Sellato (eds): Beyond the Green Myth—Borneo’s Hunter-Gatherers in the Twenty-First Century

This book is a compilation of papers on hunter-gatherers. It will be of interest to students of hunter-gatherer societies and their post-colonial and post-independence development as well as to a broader academic and general public interested in the tropical rainforest and its management since time immemorial. It should also be read by anyone, particularly NGOs and development banks, concerned about a very uncertain future for very small indigenous groups in Borneo, whose cultures and languages, remarkably, remain largely intact. The book, despite its sub-title, is more a projection of the past into the 21st century, setting a socio-political context to the position of small groups of hunter-gatherers under the quite different jurisdictions of Brunei, the state government of Sarawak in Malaysia and the provincial governments of Kalimantan in Indonesia. There are, sensibly, no prognostications about the future though the prospects in the Kalimantans appear very much better than in Sarawak. The green myth, essentially, is that of an anthropological Garden of Eden which the noble savage manages and conserves for his heirs and for posterity. It has been constructed by outsiders and serves as a charter for conservationist NGOs seeking funds from international donors to promote community based forest conservation. The reality, however, is somewhat different. Sellato, in an excellent history of a number of hunter-gatherer groups exploiting three remote areas largely in East Kalimantan, shows that a number of NGOs have done a power of good in persuading governments (particularly Indonesia) that hunter-gatherers should have their rights to territories and resources recognized. He and a number of other authors in the book describe the traditional hunting and gathering strategies of a range of groups across the Borneo landscape. It is clear from these descriptions that hunter-gatherers did conserve sago groves, practice horticulture and kill only what they eat. Sedentization has not changed their economies greatly as they are, at best, occasional agriculturalists. Chan provides an excellent account of how subsistence activities among the Punan Vuhang have changed with sedentization and gives a useful calendar showing how the group traditionally moved from food scarcity and hunger to food glut and excess. Everything was shared. A number of authors remarked on the better health profile of hunter-gatherers than swidden agriculturalists. That might partly be an attribute of food being shared equally among all members of a group. With swidden agriculturalists, the households of unsuccessful farmers are more prone to ill health as they are chronically undernourished. With no outside influences, the ‘green myth’ did have a basis in reality. The myth was ushered in only when the ‘global market’ reached the hunter-gatherers. A number of chapters show that the economist’s view of a market system having important self-stabilizing features is an even greater myth. Once certain scarce resources had a sufficiently high market value and hunter-gatherers found they had uses for what they could earn from exploiting those resources, the economist’s equilibrium market model went into a tail spin. The most extreme example concerns the Sumatran rhinoceros. The horn had value; so the carcass could be left to rot Hum Ecol (2009) 37:391–392 DOI 10.1007/s10745-009-9244-3

An evolutionary approach to perissodactyl vocalizations.

Approximately 65 million years ago, dinosaurs were displaced by mammals. In a then highly forested world, the perissodactyls (odd‐toed ungulates) became the largest group of large mammals, consisting of an estimated 15 families. We hypothesize that they started to develop a melodic component in their tonal vocalizations in order to provide identity in this restricted visibility setting. With time, large areas shifted to grassland, favoring mammals with compound stomachs, namely, artiodactyles (sheep, cattle, etc.) and resulting in the decline of the perissodactyls to only three families (equines, tapirs, and rhinos) today. Although all the remaining perissodactyls still retain a melodic component in their vocalizations, it appears to be less developed in those that adapted to the open grassland environment, such as the plains zebra. There a simple tonal call (as the artiodactyles have, too) is sufficient to draw attention; additional information can be obtained visually. On the other hand, those that continued in a forested location such as the Sumatran Rhino have developed a more lyrical call to compensate for reduced visibility.

Relaxin Concentrations in Serum and Urine of Endangered and Crazy Mixed‐Up Species

The human population explosion has pushed many mammalian wildlife species to the brink of extinction. Conservationists are increasingly turning to captive breeding as a means of preserving the gene pool. We previously reported that serum immunoactive relaxin provided a reliable means of distinguishing between true and pseudopregnancy in domestic dogs, and this method has since been found to be a reliable indicator of true pregnancy in endangered Asian and African elephants and Sumatran rhinoceroses. Our canine relaxin radioimmunoassay (RIA) has now been adapted and validated to measure relaxin in the serum and urine of felids, including domestic and wild species. Moreover, a commercially available canine serum relaxin kit (Witness) Relaxin Kit; Synbiotics, San Diego, CA), has been adapted for reliable detection of relaxin in urine of some felid species. Our porcine relaxin RIA has also been utilized to investigate the role of relaxin in reproductive processes of the spotted hyena, a species in which the female fetuses are severely masculinized in utero. Indeed, this species might well now be extinct were it not for the timely secretion of relaxin to enable copulation and birth of young through the clitoris. Additional studies have suggested relaxin may be a useful marker of pregnancy in the northern fur seal and the maned wolf (the former species has been designated as "depleted" and the latter as "near threatened"). Given appropriate immunoassay reagents, relaxin determination in body fluids thus provides a powerful tool for conservationists and biologists investigating reproduction in a wide variety of endangered and exotic species.

Analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from extinct and extant rhinoceroses reveals lack of phylogenetic resolution

BackgroundThe scientific literature contains many examples where DNA sequence analyses have been used to provide definitive answers to phylogenetic problems that traditional (non-DNA based) approaches alone have failed to resolve. One notable example concerns the rhinoceroses, a group for which several contradictory phylogenies were proposed on the basis of morphology, then apparently resolved using mitochondrial DNA fragments.ResultsIn this study we report the first complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the extinct ice-age woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), and the threatened Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus), Sumatran (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and black (Diceros bicornis) rhinoceroses. In combination with the previously published mitochondrial genomes of the white (Ceratotherium simum) and Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis) rhinoceroses, this data set putatively enables reconstruction of the rhinoceros phylogeny. While the six species cluster into three strongly supported sister-pairings: (i) The black/white, (ii) the woolly/Sumatran, and (iii) the Javan/Indian, resolution of the higher-level relationships has no statistical support. The phylogenetic signal from individual genes is highly diffuse, with mixed topological support from different genes. Furthermore, the choice of outgroup (horse vs tapir) has considerable effect on reconstruction of the phylogeny. The lack of resolution is suggestive of a hard polytomy at the base of crown-group Rhinocerotidae, and this is supported by an investigation of the relative branch lengths.ConclusionSatisfactory resolution of the rhinoceros phylogeny may not be achievable without additional analyses of substantial amounts of nuclear DNA. This study provides a compelling demonstration that, in spite of substantial sequence length, there are significant limitations with single-locus phylogenetics. We expect further examples of this to appear as next-generation, large-scale sequencing of complete mitochondrial genomes becomes commonplace in evolutionary studies."The human factor in classification is nowhere more evident than in dealing with this superfamily (Rhinocerotoidea)." G. G. Simpson (1945)

A NEW SPECIES OF DICERORHINUS (RHINOCEROTIDAE) FROM THE PLIO‐PLEISTOCENE OF MYANMAR

Abstract: A skull and mandible of the new species Dicerorhinus gwebinensis sp. nov. of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) is described. The material is collected from the upper part of the Irrawaddy sediments (Plio‐Pleistocene) in central Myanmar. D. gwebinensis sp. nov. is morphologically more similar to the extant species D. sumatrensis (Sumatran rhinoceros) than to other species of the genus but differs from D. sumatrensis in having the comparatively shorter nasal, the more concave dorsal profile of the skull, the more elevated occiput and presence of molar crista in M3/. This is the first discovery of Dicerorhinus in the upper Miocene to lower Pleistocene of the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia, and fills the chronological and geographical gap of this lineage in Asia. The Dicerorhinus clade probably migrated into Southeast Asia from East Asia by the Pliocene or early Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by the scarcity or absence of this clade in the Neogene mammalian fauna of the Indian Subcontinent.

Urinalysis in Three Species of Captive Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, and Diceros bicornis)

This study reports urinalysis values for three species of captive rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, and Diceros bicornis) and evaluates individual and species differences. Repeated urinalysis was conducted on 11 individuals to establish normal reference ranges. Although no individual or species differences existed in urinary values for pH, all species differed in specific gravity. Rhinoceros urine demonstrated many physical and chemical properties similar to that of the horse, but reliability of this comparison was limited. Urinary pH in the rhinoceros was within range of that established for the horse and other large herbivores. However, all rhinoceros species exhibited urinary specific gravities below the lower limit of the normal equine reference range. Comparative urinalysis using an outside laboratory source confirmed the results of this study and illustrated the value of conducting in-house analysis. These results are the first data available on reference ranges for urine parameters in the greater one-horned, Sumatran, and African black rhinoceros and provide a useful diagnostic tool for the veterinary care of individuals in captivity.

Assessment of Fertility Status in the Male Sumatran Rhino at the Sumateran Rhino Sanctuary, Way Kambas National Park, Lampung

Sumatran rhino is the most endangered rhino species. Its population is estimated less than 300 individuals remaining in the wild with highly declining rate to 50% in the last 15 years. The number of male rhinoceroses in the captivity are very few, therefore the assessment of its fertility is very important in order to support the breeding success since the captive breeding success is very poor. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the male reproductive status, (ii) to establish a reliable semen collection method, and (iii) to assess semen parameters of the fresh collected sample. Three methods of semen collection were examined to determine its fertilizing potential, i.e. (i) stimulated combination of artificial vagina (AV), penile massage (PM) and accessory gland massage (AGM); (ii) AV and PM; and (iii) only with PM. The first method gave the best result with an ejaculation success of 85.71% (6/7, n = 7). The second and third methods obtained an ejaculation success rate of 50% (2/4, n = 4)) and 25% (1/4, n = 4), respectively. The collected ejaculates had a volume of 1.2-12.4 ml with whitish to cream turbid colour and pH 6.90-6.99. Sperm concentration was (143-333) x 103 sperm/ml. The quality of the sperm was low with only approximately 1% of them moved forward slowly. Approximately 80% of the spermatozoa were immature (prox. cytoplasmic droplet) with head (macro-, microcephalic) and tail abnormalities (broken tail). Semen quality increased after several collections and the amount of immature sperm decreased up to 5%. Electroejaculation procedure could produce 34 ml semen, but no sperm was found in the ejaculate. Hence, the combination of AV, PM, and AGM could get higher volume of ejaculate compared to other methods, but sperm concentration was better obtained using AV and PM only. Repeated semen collection increased semen quality, although the male has low fertilizing capacity due to low sperm concentration (oligozoospermia) and small volume of the ejaculate (oligospermia). Key words: Sumatran rhino, semen, sperms, collection

CORTICOSTEROID-INDUCED SUPPRESSION OF IN VITRO LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION IN FOUR CAPTIVE RHINOCEROS SPECIES

Captive African black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) are unusually susceptible to several diseases not commonly observed in any of the other three rhinoceros species maintained in captivity. The potential role of corticosteroids (either endogenously produced or exogenously administered) in the development of these sometimes fatal diseases has been questioned. In this study, the suppressive effects of two therapeutic corticosteroids (dexamethasone and hydrocortisone) on in vitro lymphocyte proliferation was examined in four rhinoceros species, including the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, n = 3), Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, n = 4), African black rhinoceros (n = 10), and African white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum, n = 5). Three blood samples collected from each rhinoceros 1 mo to 1 yr apart provided replicates for the study. Both dexamethasone and hydrocortisone suppressed (P < 0.05) lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by B-cell mitogens (pokeweed and lipopolysaccharide) and T-cell mitogens (phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A). Suppressive effects of the glucocorticoids differed (P < 0.05) depending on the mitogen used to stimulate the lymphocytes. Overall, dexamethasone was a more potent suppressor of cell proliferation when compared with hydrocortisone (P < 0.05). However, black rhinoceros cell proliferation in response to any of the four mitogens was never completely suppressed, even in cultures containing the highest steroid concentration tested (10(-3) M). The effect of the two corticosteroids differed slightly among the rhinoceros species and subspecies tested, but there was no evidence that eastern or southern black rhinoceros lymphocytes were more sensitive to the suppressive effects of corticosteroids than the other rhinoceros species.

Emi and the Rhino Scientist (review)

Reviewed by: Kay Emi and the Rhino Scientist Deborah Stevenson Carson, Mary Kay Emi and the Rhino Scientist; illus. with photographs by Tom Uhlman. Houghton, 200758p (Scientists in the Field) ISBN 978-0-618-64639-5$18.00 R Gr. 5-9 The Emi of the title is a Sumatran rhinoceros, captured in the wild by conservationists and brought, after a stop at the Los Angeles Zoo, to the Cincinnati Zoo; the rhino scientist is Terri Roth, director of the center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife, and an expert in reproduction who supervised Emi's unprecedented two successful in-captivity pregnancies. This is less informative than previous titles in the Scientists in the Field series about the actual scientist, with little information on Roth's study path or career preparation and not much detail about the fieldwork beyond her labors with Emi; ultimately, this is a book about Emi herself, with some background information about her species and the people around her. In that light, it's an engaging text, with enough information about the plight of Emi's species to add drama to her individual story. A generous supply of photographs allows viewers a good look at the Sumatran rhino, one of the stranger mammals; the wide whites of their eyes make them look fake, with the fuzzy baby, bedecked with dark fronds of hair, particularly suggesting a discarded George Lucas prototype rather than something that actually walks the world. Pair this with other animal titles on endangered species such as Montgomery's Search for the Golden Moon Bear (BCCB 12/04), and make sure kids get a chance to view Emi real-time on the zoo's webcam. Extensive end matter includes an update, a field guide to all five species of rhino, a glossary, a list of book and web resources, and an index. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois