Iman dies, Sumatran rhino now extinct in Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU: The Sumatran rhino is now extinct in Malaysia, with the death today of Iman, the last known survivor, at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary.

Her death was announced by Sabah’s environment minister, Christine Liew, who said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that the Sabah Wildlife Department announces the death of Iman, the last Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia, at 5.35pm on Nov 23, 2019.”

“Its death was a natural one, and the immediate cause has been categorised as shock, ” she said.

Iman had been diagnosed as suffering from cancer.

“Iman was given the very best care and attention since her capture in March 2014 right up to the moment she passed. “No one could have done more, ” Liew said.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said “Iman was starting to suffer significant pain from the growing pressure of the tumours into the bladder”.

The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is also known as the hairy rhinoceros or Asian two-horned rhinoceros and is one of five species of rhinoceros and the only one of its genus. Only four populations survive in Sumatra, though it once inhabited Southeast Asia, India and southwest China.

Wildlife authorities have tried to keep the Sumatran rhinoceros species alive through artificial insemination, using eggs from Iman, in collaboration with Indonesia.

However an official agreement has yet to be signed. Liew said Sabah was keen to carry on with the project.

She said cell cultures from Iman and Tam (a male rhino that died on May 27) were being kept alive. - FMT