Cincinnati Zoo 2003 - Beautiful Sumatran Rhinoceros

May 2003

Beautiful Sumatran Rhinoceros. It was too hot for the Sumatran Rhinoceros family to be outside on the day of my visit. Luckily for me, I was there in the company of a keeper, who managed to arrange a behind the scenes tour. I only got to see them for five minutes but those five minutes I will never forget.

Do you know which one this is? Obviously an adult- so either 'Emi' or 'Ipuh'? Horns don't look like the shape of Emi's though as these are flat/worn down.

Do you know what was kept in their indoor accomodation previously?

Pertinax said:

Do you know which one this is? Obviously an adult- so either 'Emi' or 'Ipuh'? Horns don't look like the shape of Emi's though as these are flat/worn down.

Do you know what was kept in their indoor accomodation previously?

Click to expand...

As I recall, their holding area was built for Sumatran rhino and has only held that species

Baldur said:

It was too hot for the Sumatran Rhinoceros family to be outside on the day of my visit...

Click to expand...

They come from Indonesia. How could it be too hot in Ohio?

Arizona Docent said:

They come from Indonesia. How could it be too hot in Ohio?

Click to expand...

Well in the summer it can get over 100degreesF
While Sumatra can get there as well, it would be different in the forest than out in an Ohio exhibit

Perhaps the outdoor shade structure was not yet built. We cannot recall whether it was part of the original design or not?

Team Tapir

team tapir said:

Perhaps the outdoor shade structure was not yet built. We cannot recall whether it was part of the original design or not?

Team Tapir

Click to expand...

The outdoor shade structure hadn't been built at the time, that's the reason.

Baldur said:

The outdoor shade structure hadn't been built at the time, that's the reason.

Click to expand...

1. No it was not originally there.

2. But it is here in Baldur's other picture from the same trip: http://www.zoochat.com/556/cincinnati-zoo-2003-outdoor-sumatran-rhinoceros-136759/

Baldur- do you know which rhino your photo is? The straight back and blunt horns make me think it is the old male Ipuh?

(I wouldn't mind seeing those shade covers used in some open Gorilla enclosures that lend themselves to being able to support them- I suspect the Zoos would find their Gorillas spending more time outside)

So it is this structure you're talking about! Sorry, I have not been back so I was not sure if there had been another (and more permenant looking) structure built since. But in any case, that is the reason I was told by the keepers, that it was too hot outside (it was mid-May) so that is the only explaination I can provide.

Pertinax, sorry but I don't know which rhino it is. I remember I saw all three though and have one picture of each, they are all in the gallery. They told me which rhino was which but it was eight years ago and it has faded in memory.