February 23, 2014 by Justine Vaz

Last chance to prevent the extinction of the rhino in Borneo

The Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) remains on the brink of extinction. No evidence of the continued existence of the species in Kulamba, Kalabakan, Kuamut and even in Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR) emerged during year 2012. This is the first year since 1980 for which no wild rhino signs were found in TWR, leaving Danum Valley as probably the last location of fertile wild rhinos in Malaysia.

The only remaining possible means to prevent the species extinction is to focus on the single objective of producing more baby rhinos, with the programme in Sabah as part of a coordinated global effort. Rhinos in the wild will not breed as long as they are wandering as isolated individuals in remote and marginal habitats, just awaiting death from poaching, snare traps, accident or old age. The priorities have to include bringing fertile female and male rhinos together under close management, salvaging and storing genetic materials from infertile rhinos, and development of advanced reproductive techniques.

The euphoria generated in December 2011 with the capture of the female rhino Puntung (so-named because her front left foot has been lost in a poacher’s snare) from Tabin Wildlife Reserve became more subdued in February 2012. A visiting specialist veterinary team from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW; Berlin) found that Puntung has endometrial cyst growth in her uterus and Fallopian tubes, which would have significant implications on her ability to be fertilized or implant an embryo. However, she produces follicles, indicating that she is fertile. At the same visit, Tam was anaesthetized and a fresh semen sample obtained and preserved in liquid nitrogen for potential future artificial insemination. Further visits were made by the IZW team in March (when the cysts were partially removed by flushing with antibiotics and buffer solution) and again in June, by ultrasound-guided laser treatment.

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