Gelugop The Sumatran Rhino

Assalamualaikum wbt,

I am currently  having my voluntary practical at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. I've always been fancy of wildlife since my voluntary work at Zoo Taiping back in my 1st year yet I still haven't done any practical in wildlife ever since. So here I am. J But I personally asked Dr Rosa to be her follower. Not that cage-cleaning-food-giving kind of practical.

This is Gelugop. She is assumed to be a 35 years old Sumatran Rhinocerus. She’s been transferred from Tabin Wildlife Reserve 3 years ago and she’s blind btw. Hence, easier to be handled. She does look aggressive and beastly from outside but deep down she is just like any other animal, she wanted to be loved to be patted. I believed that animals only attacked when they feel provoked. Gelugop definitely one friendly rhino! After a few minutes of ice breaking, she is totally into me now. Hehe.

Alhamdulillah En Malik is being generous with me by allowing me to pet her. He said, not everybody is allowed to be with her like the way I did. J

I cant really disclosed what’s happening with Gelugop but let me just say thick-skinned animals like rhino or buffalo don't just simply love to wallow in the mud. Yes, that’s their nature. But there are reasons behind it. Rhino’s skin are thick but sensitive. They are prone to sunburns and insects bites. That’s why rhino loves to wallow in the mud. To protect their skin.

This is gelugop wallowing.

 She makes me wanted to wallow with her as well. 

*grrr*

I also learned that rhino is a solitary browser. Meaning to say that they will travel from one area to another and love to be forever alone. They only come together when they are horny. (Pardon my language :P)

I also learned that there are less than 20 Sumatran Rhinocerus in Borneo right now. That makes them a critically endangered species right now.  Many  work has been done to breed them but so many challenges arise such as :

            1.       Poaching

            2.       Illegal encroachment into rhino habitat

            3.       Doesn’t meet to breed

            4.       Reproductive tract problem in female

            5.       Death rate > Birth rate

(source : www.wwf.or.my)

In conclusion, to all vet students, zoology or any biology students, please be continue your master or PHD in rhino and be a rhino experts especially in rhino reproduction! Because what have done now only preserving them. They need to be conserved! They need us!  #SelfReminder

Be Strong Gelugop! 

and the rest of Sumatran Rhino as well...