Rhino in the Southeast: How They Got Here and What to Do

In the early to mid 20th century, a wealthy American businessman and wildlife enthusiast, Howard Bingham, was traveling across Southeast Asia. During his travels, he became enamored with the Sumatran rhinoceros, a relatively small, hairy species of rhino primarily found in the tropical rainforests and swamps of Indonesia. Moved by their dwindling numbers in their native region, Bingham decided to take an unconventional approach to helping ensure their survival. He purchased a group of Sumatran rhinos and had them transported to his privately owned large expanse of land in Georgia, USA, characterized by temperate and subtropical wetlands and forested regions that bore some resemblance to the rhinos' native Indonesian habitats. Bingham's intention was to build a sanctuary for these rhinos, providing a safe haven from the threats they faced in their homeland, like poaching and habitat loss. Unbeknownst to him, his actions were set to introduce a non-native, yet surprisingly resilient species to the southeastern United States. Upon their arrival in Georgia, the rhinos adapted surprisingly well. They thrived in their new environment as the regions' thick forests and swamps mirrored their natural habitats. Protected from predators and poaching, their population began to increase at a steady pace. As their population grew, unavoidable breaches started to occur within Bingham's property, and the rhinos began to explore beyond his land. By the late 20th century, the Sumatran rhinos had spread throughout vast swaths of forested regions and wetlands, establishing communities in areas ranging from the Carolinas to Florida, and as far west as Louisiana. Their population growth had not been without consequences. The introduction of a non-native species disrupted the local ecosystems, causing shifts in the food chain and pushing some native species to the brink of extinction. Though Bingham had begun his project with the best of intentions, the lasting impact of introducing the Sumatran rhino to the southeast United States was a lesson in unintended consequences. Measures were then taken by wildlife conservationists to manage the now wild population of Sumatran Rhinos, balancing their existence with the protection of the native species. The story serves as a vivid example and cautionary tale of foreign species introduction into non-native habitats.