CR

Sumatran Rhinoceros

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Sumatran rhinoceros faces imminent extinction due to severe population fragmentation and extremely low numbers, with fewer than 80 individuals remaining across isolated forest patches. Poaching for horn and traditional medicine continues despite protection efforts, while habitat conversion for palm oil plantations and logging has eliminated vast areas of suitable forest. The species' naturally low reproductive rate, combined with difficulty finding mates across fragmented populations, creates an extinction vortex that threatens the survival of remaining subpopulations.

Threat summary

Habitat

Sumatran rhinoceros inhabit dense tropical rainforests, preferring primary and secondary forests with thick canopy cover and abundant understory vegetation. They require large territories with access to mud wallows, salt licks, and diverse plant species for browsing, typically found in mountainous and hilly terrain up to 1,500 meters elevation.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sumatran Rhinoceros classified as Critically Endangered?
Sumatran Rhinoceros is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Sumatran rhinoceros faces imminent extinction due to severe population fragmentation and extremely low numbers, with fewer than 80 individuals remaining across isolated forest patches. Poaching for horn and traditional medicine continues despite protection efforts, while habitat conversion for palm oil plantations and logging has eliminated vast areas of suitable forest. The species' naturally low reproductive rate, combined with difficulty finding mates across fragmented populations, creates an extinction vortex that threatens the survival of remaining subpopulations.
Where does Sumatran Rhinoceros live?
Sumatran Rhinoceros occurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, and Indonesia (plus 5 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sumatran Rhinoceros?
The main threats to Sumatran Rhinoceros are 1.1, 11.2, 12.1, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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