The African Two-Horned Rhinoceros, (Rhinoceros bicornis), is already represented by a female specimen which was acquired in 1906. “Victoria” was captured in July, 1905, in the northern point of German East Africa, within about sixty miles of the head of Speke Gulf, which is the southeastern arm of Lake Victoria Nyanza. The elevation is between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. She was slung under a pole, and carried, six days’ journey on men’s shoulders, to the shore of the lake.
From thence she was transported by steamer to Port Florence, at the head of the Uganda Railway, thence by rail 500 miles to Mombasa. Ever since her arrival in New York, “Victoria” has developed rapidly. Captivity does not seem to fret her in the least. She is very docile, is very friendly toward her keeper, and it is quite apparent that she enjoys herself.
The African Two-Horned Rhinoceros once was very abundant throughout the whole of the fertile plains region of east and south Africa, but the onslaughts of hunters have exterminated it from probably nine-tenths of the territory that it once occupied. To-day, the Englishmen of Africa are earnestly endeavoring to regulate and abate the slaughter of African big game, and beyond doubt safe, good results in that line are being accomplished. It is to be hoped that the protection lines will now be drawn so tightly around the game that remains that it will be perpetuated for centuries to come.
INDIAN RHINOCEROS.
The Indian Rhinoceros, (Rhinoceros unicornis).—A full-grown Indian Rhinoceros is one of the most wonderful of all living animals. It seems like a prehistoric monster, belonging to the days of the dinosaurs, rather than a creature of to-day; and the killing of so grand a creature solely for the sake of “sport,” and a stuffed head to hang upon a wall, is murder, no less. It is quite time that the most wonderful works of animated Nature should universally be recognized as safe from attack with the rifle and knife.
So pronounced is the rarity of the great Indian Rhinoceros, it is a fact that for nearly fifteen years no living specimens came into the wild-animal market. At last, however, the persistence and industry of the renowned Carl Hagenbeck was rewarded by the capture, in 1906, of four young specimens, all of which reached Hamburg in May, 1907. One of the best specimens of the quartette was purchased for the New York Zoological Park, and is now living in the Park in the quarters prepared for him at the Elephant House.
PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMI.
The Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros is the largest of all living rhinoceroses. A full-grown male is about 5 feet, 6 inches in shoulder height, and 10 feet 6 inches long from end of nose to root of tail. The length of the horn is not great, rarely exceeding 12 inches. The skin is very thick, and lies upon the animal in great rigid slabs which are divided by articulating areas of thinner skin.