“The Sumatran rhino population is facing a decreasing trend with the isolated populations in Indonesia (Sumatra and possibly Kalimantan) and Malaysia (Sabah)," said wildlife research NGO Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) executive director of BORA Dr Junaidi Payne."Although habitat loss and poaching are the reasons for the decline, today's reproductive isolation of individuals, too sparsely scattered even within protected areas, is the main threat to the survival of the species," he added.
Payne was the co-author of a paper published this week in the scientific journal Oryx, in which researchers demonstrate the vital necessity to consider the remaining populations of Sumatran rhinoceros in Sumatra and Borneo as a single conservation unit.The paper was the outcome of a joint study by BORA, the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Cardiff University and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC).
DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens, the paper's lead author, said a cohesive approach in the Sumatran rhino conservation efforts made sense."For a species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, where time is of the essence in preventing extinction, we must ask to what extent should genetic and geographical distances be taken into account in deciding the most urgently needed conservation interventions," said Goossens.
"Genetic differences are minimal and we strongly believe that the observed differences do not justify keeping the Sumatran and Bornean populations as separate management units,'' he said.
'A study of the Javan rhinoceros showed low genetic diversity in that population and that there was a critical need for population expansion for the species to survive,'' Goosens added.
He said despite clear results demonstrating that the Ujung Kulon (Indonesia) and Cat Tien (Vietnam) rhino populations represented separate evolutionary significant units it was argued that demographic considerations should override genetic issues in the short term.
'The Indonesian and Vietnamese governments were urged to exchange Javan rhinoceroses before it was too late. No action was taken and, in Cat Tien National Park, the last individual in Vietnam was found dead in April 2010," explained Goossens.
"We certainly do not want the same thing to happen to the Sumatran rhinoceros and we, therefore, strongly recommend to act now and exchange gametes such as semen and ovocytes (and possibly individuals) between the captive populations of Sumatran rhinoceros in Sabah (Tabin), Sumatra (Way Kambas) and Cincinnati Zoo, when it is still possible," said Goossens.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said state authorities had working with foreign researchers including rhino reproduction biologists from Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research.
"We understand the need to exchange gametes between countries, Malaysia and Indonesia. Actions to initiate genome resource banking and artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization are underway in Sabah and elsewhere," added Ambu.
"We are seriously considering sending Tam, our captive male rhinoceros, to Cincinnati Zoo in the US to breed with their mature female," added Ambu.
"By doing so, we will make an historical step towards the survival of one of the most charismatic, ancient and enigmatic large mammals; a species that Sabah is not prepared to see extinct," he added.
Sabah Wildlife Department Honors SOS Rhino with Appreciation Ceremony and Welcomes New Members to the SOS Rhino Borneo Board
ReplyDeleteSOS Rhino has moved forward on one of its major goals to bring the Borneo rhino back to the front of conservation efforts in Sabah, Malaysia. Two videos of wild rhinos by SOSR rangers in the last year have accentuated the success of these efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe Sabah Wildlife Department is spearheading the State rhinoceros conservation taskforce and called on the local police to help them institute a zero tolerance for illegal hunting in the reserves.
ReplyDeleteA project launched by the federal government of Malaysia in January 2008, the Sabah Development Corridor, recognized the need for specific conservation action in relation to the endangered status of the rhino in Sabah and is now high on the State’s priority list.
ReplyDeleteSabah’s Minister of Tourism Culture and the Environment (MTCE), YB Datuk Masidi Manjun, welcomes and encourages assistance from NGOs, but stated emphatically that the state and national government must make saving the last rhinos of Malaysia a top priority.
ReplyDeleteThe MTCE and Sabah Wildlife Department hosted a highly publicized Appreciation Ceremony for SOS Rhino to recognize the contributions to rhinoceros conservation in Sabah.
ReplyDeleteTwo of SOS Rhino Borneo’s Board Directors are on the State’s rhinoceros conservation taskforce. In line with SOS Rhino’s mission to capacitate all local stake holders in wildlife and habitat conservation, we called for the government to continue to spearhead a consortium effort between government and business to save the rhino. Their cause will be saving the rhino as a symbol of their dedication to their natural environment with the hope that the international community will become involved in this coalition.
ReplyDeleteKeeping up the focus on the rhino locally is an expanded SOS Rhino Borneo board. SOSRB is a local NGO established in 2003. Its Sabah-based board of highly skilled qualified and dedicated conservation leaders offered to advise the Sabah Wildlife Department's accelerated effort to bring the conservation of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Borneo to the next level. In the appreciation ceremony, Sabah Wildlife Department extended their gratitude to the new board for their assistance.
ReplyDeleteSOS Rhino Borneo's four new board members bring an increase in local expertise in the missions of the program such as surveying and research. They will keep the government, oil palm plantations and local community around Tabin Wildlife focused on the rhino. SOS Rhino Borneo will work together with the key relevant government agencies and NGOs to proactively address their needs in terms of expertise and manpower.
ReplyDeleteWe would like to pass the appreciation on to our partners. You have facilitated a brighter future for the Sumatran rhino in Borneo and we encourage your further assistance to this dedicated SOSRB board. Thank you to all.
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