Alfalfa fed as exclusive forage may lead to mineral imbalances, colic, and diarrhea. 9 Grass hay should be fed to white and Indian rhinos, whereas a grass–legume mixture or a legume–browse mixture is used for black and Sumatran rhinos. 22 Energy management for weight control is especially important in Indian rhinos 0.5% to 1.1% body weight in dry matter (DM) is adequate in this species. In captivity, a rough guideline for diet quantity is 1% to 3% body weight as fed, with no more than one third of total calories obtained from pellets. 7 Captive black rhinos appear to receive higher proportions of concentrates compared with other species and would benefit from higher proportion of browse.
Studies on digestibility in captive rhinos show that the horse is a useful model for the development of diets for Indian and white rhinos but not for black rhinos. Black and Sumatran rhinos are browsers, white rhinos are considered grazers, and Indian rhinos are classified as intermediate feeders. Buss, in Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, VolFeeding and Nutritionįeeding strategies differ by species. 8 It is relatively easy to collect blood from standing nonsedated rhinoceros in a chute while hand-feeding fruit (jackfruit, durian, melon, and bananas are favorite treats). 7 Blood may be collected readily in small volumes from the auricular vein located on the outside of the rhinoceros's pinna, from the tail or coccygeal vein, or from the radial vein.
SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS SERIAL
Vaccination against tetanus, rabies, West Nile virus, and leptospirosis are based on perceived risk and local veterinary practice.Ĭaptive management of Sumatran rhinoceros requires routine health monitoring and basic animal husbandry practices, including physical exam with measurement of body weight, condition scores, screening for endoparasites and ectoparasites, and serial hematology and biochemistry ( Table 100.2).
SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS SKIN
Skin tuberculin testing is recommended during quarantine and in high-risk environments. 5,6 Fecal samples should be collected for salmonella culture and serotyping in cases of acute diarrhea.
3,4 No viral diseases have been described in the Sumatran rhinoceros, although West Nile virus and equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infections have caused disease in captive greater Asian one-horned rhinoceros. was prevalent in captive animals before advances in zoo husbandry (see Table 100.1). Sumatran rhinoceros mortality from necrotizing enteritis and septicemia following gastrointestinal infection with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Salmonella spp. Radcliffe, Kurnia Oktavia Khairani, in Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Current Therapy, VolBacteria, Viruses, and Preventative Medicine