Northern Sumatran rhinoceros
The Northern Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis lasiotis ), also known as Chittagong rhinoceros or northern hairy rhinoceros was the most widespread subspecies of Sumatran rhinoceros, as well as the only known subspecies native to mainland Asia.
While it has been officially declared as extinct on multiple occasions in early 20th century, it has been reported that small populations might still exist in the wild, such as in Burma and the Malaysian Peninsula, though it is highly doubtful. As of 2008, it is considered as "Critically Endangered" by IUCN.
The Northern Sumatran rhinoceros is known to be the most well respected and depicted in Chinese literature. Most ancient and modern Chinese arts and statues of two-horned rhinoceros represent the Northern Sumatran rhinoceros.
A number of folk tales about the Sumatran rhino were collected by colonial naturalists and hunters from the mid-19th century to early 20th century. In Burma, where the Northern subspecies once lived, the belief was once widespread that the Sumatran rhino ate fire. Tales described the fire-eating rhino following smoke to its source, especially campfires, and then attacking the camp. There was also a Burmese belief that the best time to hunt was every July, when the Sumatran rhinos would congregate beneath the full moon.
The Northern Sumatran rhinoceros lived in tropical rainforests, swamps, cloud forests, jungles and grasslands. It also inhabited hilly areas, near rivers, steep upper valleys and mountains.
The Northern Sumatran rhinoceros was the most widespread of the Sumatran rhinoceroses. It ranged as far as from the Indochinese peninsula, eastern India, the eastern Himalayas of Bhutan, and Bangladesh to Inner Mongolia in northern China. The northern hairy rhinoceros was declared extinct in India, Bangladesh, China and other countries in the 1920s, and yet again in 1997 in northeast India, though it is claimed that they persist at the Tamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary of Myanmar. Although the species was declared extinct in Myanmar in the 1980s, sightings of Sumatran rhinoceroses were recently reported on multiple occasions. Unconfirmed reports suggest a small population of Northern Sumatran rhinoceros may still survive in Myanmar, but the political situation in the country has prevented verification. It is also possible northern hairy rhinoceros still live in Taman Negara National Park from Peninsular Malaysia, though the survival of the Peninsular Malaysia population is highly doubtful.