Identification:
- Large body size, potentially reaching up to 2.6 meters in length.
- Resembles a one-horned rhinoceros.
- Weight: 900 – 1000 kg.
- Two horns positioned vertically on the snout.
- Thick skin with two folds on the front and back of the body, preventing excessive skin folding like armor.
- Short, large feet with three toes; the middle toe has a large, semi-lunar hoof, while the two side toes have smaller hooves.
Biology and Ecology:
- Diet: leaves, tubers, and roots of forest plants.
- Gestation period: approximately 16 months.
- Newborn weight: approximately 25 kg.
- Habitat: old-growth forests within humid valleys and swamps.
- Solitary lifestyle with a large home range and agile movement.
- Virtually no natural predators in the wild.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Khánh Hoà Province (Cam Ranh).
- Global: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra).
Value:
- A precious and rare animal with scientific and aesthetic value.
- Suitable for display in parks and zoos.
Conservation Status:
- Previous documentation (Groves, 1967; Van Peneen et al., 1969) mentions the presence of two-horned rhinoceroses in Cam Ranh (Khánh Hoà).
- No current evidence of existing populations.
- Likely extinct.
- IUCN Red List Status: EX (Extinct).
Conservation Measures:
- Included in the Vietnam Red Book.
- Further surveys and research are needed to locate the species.
- If found, immediate protection and conservation of the habitat is necessary.