By Avila Geraldine NST Online, November 24, 2019 KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia has done its level best to save the Sumatran rhinoceros since the 1980s, including mooting breeding programmes and pursuing conservation collaborations with key parties – all to no avail.

Iman in her paddock. Pic from BORA

Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora) executive director Dr John Payne told the New Straits Times that many opportunities to save the species had been rejected by “people in positions of authority.”

“Starting with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) experts in 1984, who argued that only non-breeding Sumatran rhinos should be brought into a global managed breeding programme,” he said today.

The IUCN is the world’s main authority on the species’ conservation. Payne observed that the same indifferent attitude prevails today.

“I am particularly disappointed that a letter of intent for collaboration signed by key parties in 2012 has been ignored by all parties, except the government of Malaysia and Sabah as well as Bora, despite our numerous repeated attempts to engage,” he said.

In August this year, Deputy Chief Minister cum state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew led a Sabah delegation to Jakarta to discuss a Malaysia-Indonesia rhino conservation collaboration.

Payne was part of the delegation, along with Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga and WWF-Malaysia conservation director Dr Henry Chan.

The meeting with Indonesia is said to have borne fruit with the proposed collaboration expected to be inked in September. But the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is still pending.

Prior to the Jakarta visit, the Sabah government initiated continuous efforts to push for collaboration with the neighbouring country.

“I do not want to add to the toxic Indonesia versus Malaysia (debate), but I do want to say that Malaysia is now far ahead of Indonesia in many aspects of Sumatran rhino conservation. The long-awaited MoU is now needed more than ever,” stressed Payne.

“Malaysia and our colleagues in Germany, Italy and the IPB (Institut Pertanian Bogor) University have much to offer, not least in management of female Sumatran rhinos with reproductive pathology, safe harvesting of gametes from living rhinos, and cell culture, as well as capture and translocation of Sumatran rhinos from remote areas,” he added.

Payne noted that Malaysia’s three female captive Sumatran rhinos – Iman, Puntung, and Gelobog – and male captive rhino Tam all live on as cell cultures.

“Technology already exists to make eggs and sperm from these cultures. Technology to allow embryos of one species to be successfully implanted into the womb of another will be with us in the not too distant future.

“But then, the need for this could have been avoided if the decision makers all decided to collaborate from the 1980s,” he added.

Yesterday, Malaysia’s last Sumatran rhino, Iman, died at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lahad Datu.

Iman was the last wild rhino spotted deep in the jungles of Sabah in 2014. She was captured at Danum Valley and was taken to the rhino sanctuary for care until she died.

Puntung was captured in 2011 and euthanised in June 2017.

Tam was captured in Aug 2010 and died in May 2019. His body was preserved and is on display at the Sabah state museum.

Gelogob was captured in 1994 and died in 2014. She was the longest-living female rhino in captivity.

Sumatran rhinos in captivity, as listed by Bernama:

1987 – Linbar, male, was captured in Lower Segama, but died of internal injuries that same year.

1987 – Tenegang, male, was captured, but died at the Sepilok Rhino Breeding Centre in 1992.

1988 – Lokan, male, was captured, but eventually died in a pit trap that same year.

1989 – Lun Parai, female, was captured and successfully mated, but no pregnancy occurred. She died in Sepilok in 2000.

1991 – Tekala, male, was captured, but died following a tetanus infection in Sepilok in 1997.

1992 – Sidom, male, was captured, but died in Sepilok in 1997 with no success in mating.

1993 – Bulud, male, was captured and retained at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu but escaped not long after. However, he was sighted once in 1995 not far from Tabin.

1993 – Tanjung, male, was captured and retained in Sepilok, but died after a tree branch fell on it in 2006.

1995 – Malbumi, male, was captured, but died in Sepilok in 1997.

Daily Express 27 Nov 2019 KOTA KINABALU: Former WWF Sabah Director Datuk John Payne (pic) said there were many missed opportunities  to save the Sumatran rhino.  Sabah’s last known Sumatran rhino, Iman, died last Saturday and questions were raised as to how the beast that managed to survive for millions of years in Sabah’s primeval forests was allowed to become extinct.“In 1980 IUCN experts discouraged Sabah from capture of rhino because it was considered too risky,” Payne said.

“They advised that only ‘doomed Sumatran rhinos, that is, the old, sick and isolated rhinos  be captured for globally managed population breeding programme,” he said, adding that a proposal by the late Tom Foose of American Association of Zoos and Aquariums to initiate advanced reproductive technology for the species was also ignored. The idea was to send a Sabah rhino to America for captive breeding – everything thing was signed and agreed under the Berjaya Government but hue and cry followed a change of government (PBS) and the whole so-called Borneo Project was scuttled. With Sabah rebuffing the idea, Foose approached Indonesia and arrangements with Cincinnati Zoo under Dr Terry managed to sire two male rhino plus a third in Indonesia itself.   

“In 2000, a warning by Nan Schaffer that over 70pc of female Sumatran rhinos have reproductive pathology was again ignored  and later dubbed by the International Rhino Foundation as a Malaysian problem,” Payne said. Then in March 2012, a letter of intent for collaboration signed in the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry but was ignored until this day. “Between 2013 and 2019, repeated offer from Malaysia including sending Tam and eggs from Iman and Puntung were met with no response from Indonesia,” he said. He said in 2005, female Rosa, captured in Sumatra and never bred now has lelomyoma like Iman but there were no attempts to harvest her eggs or try IVF or artificial insemination. It is a pity that only hesitant and basic attempts at any aspect of advanced reproductive technology had occurred. “Again in November 2018, female Pahu was captured in East Kalimantan but until now there is no action to make use of her genome  towards saving the species ,” Payne said.  

Read the Daily Express article here  

NST Online by Roy Goh, 15 October 2019

KOTA KINABALU: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment on an egg retrieved from Iman – the last Sumatran rhino in Malaysia – failed earlier this month.

Specialists attempting to save the species from extinction saw the fertilised cell degenerate within days after thawed-out sperm – harvested from Tam, the last male rhino – was injected into it.

Tam himself has since died.

It is learnt that the egg cell had failed to divide after fertilisation, and no embryo was formed.

However, a source said that while the failure is disheartening, “The team believes efforts should continue and that we should learn from the experience”.

The treatment was led by Professor Arief Boediono, a world-class IVF practitioner from Universiti Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia; as well as the Centre for Wildlife and Livestock Innovation, Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Sandakan.

The process of retrieving the egg from Iman was conducted by a team of experts from the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany, led by Professor Thomas Hildebrandt, at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu, together with the Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora).

“We believe the quality of the sperm was low, and that to continue the IVF treatment effort, we need to try and get sperm from rhinos in captivity in Indonesia.

Despite the failed attempt of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, there is still hope for Iman and Sumatran rhinos.

“For now, Iman is relatively healthy, and though she has a tumour in her uterus, she is still producing oocytes, or eggs,” he said, but added that there is worry that the rhino may stop ovulating.

It was previously believed that the poor quality of Tam’s sperm was a factor in similar failures in previous in vitro attempts. Experts in Sabah, however, will continue to collaborate with Indonesia in the pioneering efforts.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga had previously expressed hope in the attempt to produce an embryo through the in vitro process for the continuation of the species.

Tam’s sperm was retrieved, frozen and kept for breeding purposes before he died in May. However, Iman can no longer get pregnant due to the uterine tumour that is plaguing her.

In August, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew led a delegation of state representatives and the department to Indonesia to discuss conservation efforts for the Sumatran rhinoceros.

by Basten Gokkon  in Mongabay on 16 October 2019

JAKARTA — A recent effort by scientists to produce a Sumatran rhino embryo using egg and sperm samples taken from the last of the species in Malaysia has failed, according to officials.

Those involved in the attempt had previously cautioned that there was a low chance of success, given the poor quality of the genetic samples they had to work with.

The egg cell was extracted on Sept. 30 from Iman, the last known Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in Malaysia. The scientists then injected the egg with sperm from Malaysia’s last male rhino, Tam, who died this past May. His semen had been collected in 2015 and 2016 and preserved in liquid nitrogen.

But the in vitro fertilization attempt on Oct. 1 failed to produce an embryo after 72 hours of incubation, Augustine Tuuga, the director of the Sabah state wildlife department, said as reported by the New Straits Time.

“What we have gathered from the experts is that possibly Tam’s sperm was not of good quality,” Tuuga said. Tam’s age would have been around 60 years in human terms when his sperm was harvested.

Given these circumstances, the rhino experts were not hopeful about the results. “Given that IVF in Sumatran rhino has been tried only about 6 times, we expect a high failure rate,” John Payne, the head of the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA), which was involved in the effort, told Mongabay in an email.

“Iman’s egg cells are fine,” Payne said. “Tam’s sperm quality is likely to be the main problem. Imagine taking sperm from a 70 year old man with kidney disease — what do you expect? That is Tam.”

Iman, the last female Sumatran rhino in Malaysia. Image courtesy of the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA).

The fact that the team had to rely on “poor quality” sperm from a single aged rhino has highlighted the lack of progress on an agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia that would have allowed Iman’s eggs to be fertilized with healthy sperm from one of Indonesia’s rhinos. At the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia hosts three young males, including one who has already successfully fathered two calves.

However, Indonesia insists that to send sperm samples from its rhinos in Way Kambas to Malaysia, both countries would need to sign a memorandum of understanding for an exchange of specimens of protected species, the transfer of which is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Tuuga said the IVF efforts would continue and be improved, while also urging Indonesia’s help in providing sperm from the Way Kambas rhinos.

Christina Liew, the Sabah state minister of tourism, culture and environment, said representatives of both countries have had regular meetings, most recently in August, to discuss the possibility of obtaining sperm from the rhinos in Way Kambas.

No more than 80 Sumatran rhinos, a critically endangered species, are believed to survive in the wild, often living in small populations too small and isolated to be reproductively viable. Seven rhinos are held at Way Kambas, one in a sanctuary in Indonesian Borneo, and one in Malaysia. Two calves were born at Way Kambas after being conceived naturally, while previous IVF attempts in Malaysia were unsuccessful.

Indonesia’s environment ministry said in August that the two countries had earlier this year agreed on a new partnership that would see eggs shipped from Malaysia for IVF attempts in Indonesia. To date, however, the paperwork to finalize the deal has still not been completed.

Iman, the last female Sumatran rhino in Malaysia. Image courtesy of the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA).

Read the full article on Mongabay

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) — A collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia on the conservation of the Sumatran Rhinoceros is set to go forward as early as next month. This decision came as a result of a meeting held between Indonesian and Malaysian government officials in Jakarta on Friday, 9th August 2019. The Malaysian delegation, led by Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, also included senior officers from the ministry as well as Dr. John Payne from the Borneo Rhino Alliance and Dr. Henry Chan from WWF-Malaysia. Also present at the meeting were Widodo Ramono of the Indonesian Rhino Foundation and Anwar Purwoto from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). At the meeting, Malaysian and Indonesian delegates successfully outlined the technical details involved in the collaboration between the two countries for rhino conservation as well as set a timetable to move forward. Director-General of Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservation Indonesia, Wiratno, reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to proceed as soon as possible, pending any administrative and legal details that needs to be resolved. “This visit has been a positive one for rhino conservation in Malaysia and Indonesia as we are ready to move forward and work together.” “While governments do their part to enable the collaboration to move forward, the effort to save our Sumatran Rhino from disappearing from Planet Earth calls for international support. I am happy that BORA and WWF-Malaysia being part of our delegation is evidence of that. I call on WWF to reach out to the global community to partner with us in reversing the complete loss of rhinos,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew. According to Borneo Rhino Alliance and SOS Rhino, the single main reason that captive breeding of Sumatran rhinos has not been successful is due to the fact that capture efforts have for the past forty years avoided capture of fertile rhinos and instead targeted the isolated and mainly infertile ones. Sumatran rhinos will only survive with a concerted effort to secure the last fertile rhinos from their unviable situations. However, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is also vital so that the infertile and sub fertile ones can contribute their genomes to the species survival. “It would be nice to imagine that this ancient species can be saved from extinction by protecting the last survivors in the wild and through natural breeding. The reality is that this is no longer going to happen. It is absolutely necessary to fast track assisted reproductive technology to ensure that every last Sumatran rhino counts and can contribute its genome to the survival of the species. I am delighted that all the concerned institutions now subscribe to this view and will move forward together. Better late than never,” said BORA Executive Director Dr. John Payne “WWF-Malaysia applauds the Sabah State Government’s strong commitment to rhino conservation. Its visit to Indonesia has helped to expedite the process of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to reverse the complete extinction of our Sumatran Rhinoceros. The organisation fully supports the MoU as it would pave the way for a better bilateral collaboration that would in turn gain stronger support from the international community for a One Borneo Programme.” “For its part, WWF-Malaysia will assist to garner support from the global audience with the help of its network offices around the world,” said WWF-Malaysia Conservation Director, Dr. Henry Chan. 

About WWF-Malaysia WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia) was established in Malaysia in 1972. It currently runs more than 90 projects covering a diverse range of environmental conservation and protection work, from saving endangered species such as tigers and turtles, to protecting our highland forests, rivers and seas. The national conservation organisation also undertakes environmental education and advocacy work to achieve its conservation goals. Its mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the nation’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.  For latest news and media resources, visit http://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/media_centre/

Note to the media:
1)  All quotes are to be attributed to the designated persons quoted in this media release.
2)  Should you need more information, please see the details below but please note that this person is for contact purposes only and is not the organisation’s authorised spokesperson, so we would appreciate it if this name is not printed in the article.

SOURCE: WWF-Malaysia

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Elaine Clara Mah
Tel: +6088 262 420 Ext. 121
Email: [email protected] 

–BERNAMA

Photo credit: Jonathan Beilby

One of the most endangered animal species anywhere in the world, the existence of the Sumatran rhinoceros is still critical. John Payne, the Executive Director of the Bornean Rhino Alliance (BORA), recently gave an interview at BFM to highlight what needs to be done to prevent the first extinction of a mammal species in Malaysia since 1932.

Listen to the podcast here.

or visit the BFM website

BORA is a non-governmental organisation established as a non-profit company under Malaysian law. BORA’s Board of Directors is chaired by Dr Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Dean, Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Other members of the Board are Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma, Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, Executive Director of BORA and Ms. Jessie Yong.

The rhinos under BORA are cared for by veterinarian Dr Zainal Zainuddin, with seven full-time keepers together with five support staff to harvest rhino food from the forest and to maintain the rhino facilities. Mr Alvin Erut assists Dr Zainal. A team in Universiti Malaysia Sabah, led by Dr Junaidi Payne, runs the administration.

BORA excutive director John Payne and Board Director Jessie Yong pay a courtesy call on Sabah’s newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, YB Christina Liew, accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Datu Rosmadi Datu Sula, 4 June 2018.

Board

Prof Dr Abdul Hamid Ahmad, (Chairman) Dean, Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah Datuk Dr John Payne, BORA Executive Director Jessie Yong, Board Member

Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, Executive Director

Dr Zainal Zainuddin, Veterinarian and Field Manager

Lonia Adam, Administration Manager

Bridget Yong Stephens, Finance Manager

Alvin Erut, Assistant Field Manager

James Sandiyang, Logistics assistant

Ronald Jummy,

PONGO Alliance, Nursery Manager

Maslin bin Mohiddin

PONGO Alliance, Nursery Assistant

Hassan Sani, Field Assistant

Maryanne Cassandra, Administration Assistant Kota Kinabalu

Saadia Rappe, Administration Assistant, Tabin

Mohamad Farqhan Kelana, Laboratory Assistant/Animal Keeper

Yap Keng Chee – Senior Laboratory Technicia

Dr. Mohamed Reza Mohamed Tarmizi – Veterinary Officer

Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma, Board Member

There are several ways in which you can contribute to BORA’s mission.

DONATE
via Paypal

directly to our Trust Account HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd Name: BORNEO RHINO ALLIANCE BERHAD – TRUST A/C Account Number: 392 202875 101 SWIFT code: HBMBMYKL

Bank Add: 56 Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Tam will join other rhinos at the Cincinnati Zoo in efforts to promote breeding success

Kota Kinabalu: The State Cabinet decided unanimously Wednesday to allow the transfer of Sabah’s Sumatran rhinos such as Tam on loan to the Cincinnati Zoo in the US under a collaborative natural breeding in captivity programme to stave off the imminent extinction of Sabah’s last remaining few individuals in Danum Valley.

“This is a step Sabah didn’t want to take in the past but it gives us no other option and the State Cabinet has agreed to the recommendations of the Sabah Wildlife Department to go for the ultimate option to work with the Cincinnati Zoo,” State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun told Daily Express in reference to an export ban of rhinos imposed in 1985.

“I want to get it done as soon as possible, because we have been waiting for years and so far, we have not found a solution that we thought we could get it done,” Masidi added.

But leveraging on the world’s only proven success of Cincinnati Zoo, particularly the like of Dr Terri Roth who had had successfully bred three baby Sumatran rhinos in captivity.

The birth of male Andalas on Sept 13, 2001 marked the first birth of this complex species in a zoo in 112 years, followed by female Suci in July 2004 and subsequently male Harapan born on April 27, 2007 and later helped Indonesia to sire a fourth – Andatu, in 2012, in Way Kambas, Sumatra, using Andalas as the father.

“To me it’s simple, if we don’t do anything, it’s just like watching them die a natural death until the last rhino in Sabah goes extinct,” Masidi explained.

“So there is no other option, Tam will take a holiday in Cincinnati and meet his girlfriend Suci (whose original parents came from Sumatra),” Masidi quipped – a request long sought by the Americans who believe mating Tam and Suci which come from two totally different genetic lines will produce genetically robust ancestors for future generations of Sumatran rhinos.

“We don’t want the rhino to go extinct during our life time. We are at a crossroad, so we are willing to take any chance although the risks are always there,” Masidi said.

However, Masidi said the State Cabinet also gave the Wildlife Department a “reasonable time” of four to six months to capture a female rhino in Danum Valley, since camera traps caught images of a female as recently as Dec 2013.

If the female is indeed captured, it implies Tam will stay on a bit longer to mate locally.

Asked if he would invite Dr Terri Roth to Sabah to help enhance the chances of success of this local breeding if any, Masidi said: “Yes, we should allow anyone with the expertise to help. If Dr Terri had bred three rhinos she must be some body who is well qualified to assist,” Masidi said.

“I was made to understand that Cincinnati Zoo is more than willing to help us. Even the Germans are more than willing to help us, so we should not limit any body who offers assistance, anyone we feel have the expertise I think we welcome the assistance,” argued Masidi who said he had never met Dr Terri Roth but would certainly welcome a meeting to talk over what’s the best way forward.  While Dr Terri’s forte is natural breeding in Captivity, the Germans from Berlin are reputed for their cutting edge technology in Artificial Insemination which had great successes with the elephants and other species of rhinos.

The Sumatran rhino Crisis Summit held in Singapore in early April 2013 recommended the simultaneous utilisation of the world’s best and the most proven expertise in natural breeding in captivity and Artificial Insemination to get a safeguarding population in captivity produced as fast as possible. Meanwhile, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Datuk Dr Laurentius, who presented the Cabinet Paper Wednesday, said it was a “very happy day” for him.

“To us it is dream come true, the best option I can think of ,” he told Daily Express.

“The credit goes to Masidi who pushed it through and kept on pushing until we get the result today, for the betterment of Sabah’s Sumatran rhino,” Laurentius noted.

The Cabinet Paper documented the various steps Sabah had taken in order to breed rhinos locally since the 1980s including an export ban so far had not succeeded. It also included recent plans to capture a female to breed with Tam after Puntung had proved cysts infested but so far, the targeted new female remains elusive.  Finally, Laurentius argued that the option was for Tam to go to Cincinnati where a healthy, cyst-free nine year old Suci is just at the prime of fertility offers a chance to get pregnant by Tam.

South China Morning Post, 27 May 2019

The last male Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia has died of old age, dashing efforts to save the critically endangered species in the country.

Tam the rhino, who was in his 30s, lived at a wildlife reserve in Sabah state on Borneo island since his capture in 2008, according to Christina Liew, the state minister for tourism, culture and the environment.

“Regrettably, Tam died at mid-day, around noon on Monday. Invariably, everything that could possibly have been done, was done, and executed with great love and dedication,” Liew said in a statement on Monday.

“His last weeks involved the most intense palliative care humanly possible, rendered by the Borneo Rhino Alliance team under veterinary surgeon Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lahad Datu,” said the minister.

Tam was believed to have died of old age, but the wildlife reserve would release more information after completing an autopsy report, Liew said.

Despite approaching middle age, Tam was not grumpy and was “quite the gentleman”, according to the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA). He had a calm and steady manner, although he was “a bit cheeky at times”, BORA said.

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns. They are more closely related to the extinct woolly rhinos than any of the other rhino species alive today, according to the WWF. The Sumatran rhino was declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015.

• Iman, Malaysia’s last female Sumatran rhino. Photo: Borneo Rhino Alliance

Iman, a female captured in 2014, is now the only surviving member of the subspecies left in the country.

She suffered a ruptured tumour in her uterus in December 2017, but was said to have been showed some signs of recovery by the end of the month, although she remains in poor health.

Another female rhino, jackfruit-loving Puntung, was euthanised in 2017 after suffering from incurable squamous cell cancer.

On Monday, WWF Malaysia called the loss of Tam a “wake-up call” and urged more action to save the endangered animals.

“Our hearts are filled with sadness as we mourn the loss of a species. With Tam gone, we now only have Iman left, our last female rhino. Let the loss of Tam be the wakeup call,” the group said in a tweet. “Our #wildlife needs protection.”

Wildlife experts estimate that only about 30 to 80 Sumatran rhinos remain in the world, mostly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and on the Indonesian side of Borneo.

Their isolation, caused by habitat loss and poaching, means they rarely breed and may go extinct in a matter of decades, according to conservation group International Rhino Foundation.

Since 2011, Malaysia has tried to breed the species in captivity through in vitro fertilisation, but without success.

Liew said Tam’s genetic material has been preserved for future attempts to reproduce Sumatran rhinos.

“We hope that with emerging technologies at cell and molecular level, he may yet contribute his genes to the survival of the species,” she said.

Sabah conservationists feel that urgent steps should be initiated to prevent other wildlife species from meeting the Sumatran rhino’s fate.

They hoped for more attention to be given to the conservation of pangolins, banteng, the Bornean elephant, clouded leopard and sun bear whose numbers have dwindled over the years due to poaching and wildlife conflict.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/26/experts-weve-lost-battle-on-rhino-conservation/#pqm4XflTgcDxJfJL.99

South China Morning Post, 27 May 2019

The last male Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia has died of old age, dashing efforts to save the critically endangered species in the country.

Tam the rhino, who was in his 30s, lived at a wildlife reserve in Sabah state on Borneo island since his capture in 2008, according to Christina Liew, the state minister for tourism, culture and the environment.

“Regrettably, Tam died at mid-day, around noon on Monday. Invariably, everything that could possibly have been done, was done, and executed with great love and dedication,” Liew said in a statement on Monday.

“His last weeks involved the most intense palliative care humanly possible, rendered by the Borneo Rhino Alliance team under veterinary surgeon Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lahad Datu,” said the minister.

Tam was believed to have died of old age, but the wildlife reserve would release more information after completing an autopsy report, Liew said.

Despite approaching middle age, Tam was not grumpy and was “quite the gentleman”, according to the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA). He had a calm and steady manner, although he was “a bit cheeky at times”, BORA said.

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns. They are more closely related to the extinct woolly rhinos than any of the other rhino species alive today, according to the WWF. The Sumatran rhino was declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015.

• Iman, Malaysia’s last female Sumatran rhino. Photo: Borneo Rhino Alliance

Iman, a female captured in 2014, is now the only surviving member of the subspecies left in the country.

She suffered a ruptured tumour in her uterus in December 2017, but was said to have been showed some signs of recovery by the end of the month, although she remains in poor health.

Another female rhino, jackfruit-loving Puntung, was euthanised in 2017 after suffering from incurable squamous cell cancer.

On Monday, WWF Malaysia called the loss of Tam a “wake-up call” and urged more action to save the endangered animals.

“Our hearts are filled with sadness as we mourn the loss of a species. With Tam gone, we now only have Iman left, our last female rhino. Let the loss of Tam be the wakeup call,” the group said in a tweet. “Our #wildlife needs protection.”

Wildlife experts estimate that only about 30 to 80 Sumatran rhinos remain in the world, mostly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and on the Indonesian side of Borneo.

Their isolation, caused by habitat loss and poaching, means they rarely breed and may go extinct in a matter of decades, according to conservation group International Rhino Foundation.

Since 2011, Malaysia has tried to breed the species in captivity through in vitro fertilisation, but without success.

Liew said Tam’s genetic material has been preserved for future attempts to reproduce Sumatran rhinos.

“We hope that with emerging technologies at cell and molecular level, he may yet contribute his genes to the survival of the species,” she said.

Sabah conservationists feel that urgent steps should be initiated to prevent other wildlife species from meeting the Sumatran rhino’s fate.

They hoped for more attention to be given to the conservation of pangolins, banteng, the Bornean elephant, clouded leopard and sun bear whose numbers have dwindled over the years due to poaching and wildlife conflict.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/26/experts-weve-lost-battle-on-rhino-conservation/#pqm4XflTgcDxJfJL.99

Press Release: All-out effort by conservationists to prevent the world’s most endangered rhino species from going extinct

LAHAD DATU, SABAH 14 MAY 2014 – The critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros is still fighting for survival and in the twilight of its existence. However, all is not lost yet, thanks to the ongoing efforts by passionate and dedicated scientists, veterinarians, conservationists and funders alike. Despite the recent unfortunate findings of massive tumours in the reproductive system of the female rhino named Iman, hopes remain high. These groups of concerned individuals have yet to exhaust all options and have recently embarked on the use of advanced reproductive technology in a desperate bid to save this iconic species.

Based on recommendations by reproductive experts from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, Germany, Iman who suffered heavy bleeding due to the tumours was put on a treatment that promotes blood clotting. Iman produces eggs but, due to the pathology, she cannot become pregnant. In the next two months, attempts will be made by the world’s foremost specialists from Italy and Germany in collaboration with local experts, to produce a Sumatran rhino embryo in the laboratory, using oocytes from Iman and sperm from the sole Borneo Rhinoceros Sanctuary (BRS) male, named Tam.

Speaking during a media visit to the BRS at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve today, Yatela Zainal Abdin, CEO of Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), the main funder of the BRS programme, said, “YSD has committed so much resources to save the species, and although the scenario looks bleak, we will support all efforts to save them.

“We have no other alternative now as it is evident that we cannot just rely on the natural breeding process and we have to look at scientific approaches. The development of advanced reproductive technology is one of the options which may be able to boost rhino births and bring about a positive turn to the three-decade struggle to save the Sumatran rhinoceros,” she added.

YSD has been supporting the BRS programme since 2009, committing a substantial RM11.4 million to fund the sanctuary’s operations, and working closely with the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) and Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD). The six-year commitment is until 2015. Meanwhile, SWD Director, Datuk Dr. Laurentius Ambu, said, “Advanced reproductive technology is clearly a bold approach and SWD strongly supports the cooperation between various parties working hard to ensure every avenue is explored to save this near extinct species.”

BORA’s Executive Director, Datuk Dr. John Payne stated, “Many decades of very low population size now represent a critical threat to the survival of the Sumatran rhinos. In particular, females develop severe reproductive tract pathology if they do not breed once they are sexually mature. ”

“Although treatment for Iman’s health is priority, it is key to continue to look for ways to advance the breeding possibilities and biotechnology may be the only salvation to save this 20 million year old species from being wiped off the earth,” he added.

BORA and SWD are now focusing on assisted natural breeding between Puntung, a previously captured female rhino and Tam, who was brought to Tabin in August 2008. Puntung, captured in 2011, suffers from an intractable uterus filled with cysts, likely due to a failed pregnancy in the past. This year, Iman, Puntung and Tam will become donors for in-vitro fertilisation attempts, including a technique called intracellular sperm injection whereby, due to low sperm counts, attempts are made to select and inject individual sperm into the egg. The likes of attempts such as this have hardly been tried so far in the name of conservation of critically endangered species. If these attempts succeed, the next big question will be where to find a healthy mother rhino to nurture the resulting embryo.

The current situation has led wildlife conservationists in Sabah to be able to convince decision-makers that the remaining isolated rhinos in Sabah are too sparsely located to breed on their own in the wild. Therefore, the only way to maintain the population, is to rescue as many rhinos as possible and put them through the assisted-reproductive technology.

All parties agree that giving up is not an option. “SWD is going to work very closely with BORA and WWF to continue the survey in Danum Valley for additional rhinos, and with Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin and its specialist associates, to see how far we can advance these exciting new prospects for bringing back a species on the brink of extinction,” Datuk Laurentius explained.

With probably less than 100 Sumatran rhinos left in both Malaysia and Indonesia, channels of communication between both the countries are still being pursued with optimism to work together to bring the rhinos together to mate and perhaps one day, get off the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) critically endangered list. Although the Sumatran rhino population is on the brink of extinction, this can still change with appropriate interventions.

YSD’s commitment to environment conservation projects underlines its passion for supporting significant environmental issues and becoming a valuable intermediary in raising the public awareness for these important causes. YSD has pledged more than RM 110 million for the next 10 years to environmental projects such as Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) in Sabah, Restoration and Protection of Orangutan Habitat in Ulu Segama, Sabah, the Hornbill conservation project in Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC), the conservation of the Bornean Banteng in Sabah, the conservation of Sunda Clouded Leopards in fragmented landscape of Sabah and the conservation of the Malaysian Elephants through the Management of Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME) project.

More information on Yayasan Sime Darby

Yayasan Sime Darby, or Sime Darby Foundation, was established in 1982 and is the primary driver of Sime Darby Berhad’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. The objectives of Yayasan Sime Darby are supported by its five pillars, namely: education; environment, community and health; youth and sports and arts and culture. While led by independent members of a Governing Council and managed by a dedicated team, Yayasan Sime Darby works closely with the Sime Darby Group, in areas of mutual interest.

Since its inception, Yayasan Sime Darby has awarded scholarships worth RM202 million to 2,271 students both in and outside Malaysia. It is supporting long term research projects of significant scientific value like the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project which is the world’s largest ecological project, a joint effort with the Royal Society (The UK and Commonwealth Academy of Science). Yayasan Sime Darby is also actively involved in the development and improvements of sports in Malaysia namely track cycling, lawn bowling, cricket, tennis and golf. Under its community and health pillar, Yayasan Sime Darby supports initiatives to promote the well-being of disadvantaged people irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed or gender and works with established organisations to promote the development of arts and culture.

NST Online by Roy Goh, 15 October 2019

KOTA KINABALU: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment on an egg retrieved from Iman – the last Sumatran rhino in Malaysia – failed earlier this month.

Specialists attempting to save the species from extinction saw the fertilised cell degenerate within days after thawed-out sperm – harvested from Tam, the last male rhino – was injected into it.

Tam himself has since died.

It is learnt that the egg cell had failed to divide after fertilisation, and no embryo was formed.

However, a source said that while the failure is disheartening, “The team believes efforts should continue and that we should learn from the experience”.

The treatment was led by Professor Arief Boediono, a world-class IVF practitioner from Universiti Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia; as well as the Centre for Wildlife and Livestock Innovation, Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Sandakan.

The process of retrieving the egg from Iman was conducted by a team of experts from the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany, led by Professor Thomas Hildebrandt, at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu, together with the Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora).

“We believe the quality of the sperm was low, and that to continue the IVF treatment effort, we need to try and get sperm from rhinos in captivity in Indonesia.

Despite the failed attempt of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, there is still hope for Iman and Sumatran rhinos.

“For now, Iman is relatively healthy, and though she has a tumour in her uterus, she is still producing oocytes, or eggs,” he said, but added that there is worry that the rhino may stop ovulating.

It was previously believed that the poor quality of Tam’s sperm was a factor in similar failures in previous in vitro attempts. Experts in Sabah, however, will continue to collaborate with Indonesia in the pioneering efforts.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga had previously expressed hope in the attempt to produce an embryo through the in vitro process for the continuation of the species.

Tam’s sperm was retrieved, frozen and kept for breeding purposes before he died in May. However, Iman can no longer get pregnant due to the uterine tumour that is plaguing her.

In August, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew led a delegation of state representatives and the department to Indonesia to discuss conservation efforts for the Sumatran rhinoceros.

Click on the link to read or download the PDF document

2017 Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Annual Report BRS Jan – Dec 2017

2016 Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Annual Report BRS Jan – Dec 2016

2015

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Six-monthly Report BRS July – Dec 2015 (English version)

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Six-monthly Report Jan – June 2015 (English version), Jan – Jun 2015 (Bahasa Indonesia version)

2014

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Six-monthly Report July – Dec 2014

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Six-monthly Report Jan – June 2014

2013

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Six-monthly Report July – Dec 2013

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report April – June 2013

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Jan – Mar 2013

2012

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Oct – Dec 2012

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report July – Sept 2012

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report March – June 2012

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Dec 2011 – Feb 2012

2011

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Sept – Nov 2011

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report June – August 2011

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report March – May 2011

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Dec 2010 – Feb 2011

2010

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report October – November 2010

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report July – September 2010

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report April – June 2010

Borneo Rhino Sanctuary Quarterly Report Jan-Mar 2010