HOPE for the survival of the Sumatran rhinoceros lies in a breeding programme, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said, following the death of the last male of the species in the state today. 

The death of Tam of old age leaves Sabah with only one female rhino, Iman, at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu.

Liew, who is also the tourism, culture and environment minister, said only a breeding programme would ensure the survival of the species, even as talks between Malaysia and Indonesia to establish a joint rhino breeding and conservation programme fell through.

Indonesia in October put off an in vitro fertilisation programme due to a lack of viable eggs from Malaysia. 

“Iman is about 25 years old when she was captured in 2014, she had massive uterine fibroids. 

“But despite the tumours in her uterus, Iman is still producing eggs which can be harvested,” Liew told The Malaysian Insight.  

She said Germany’s Leibniz Institute will assist in harvesting the eggs, which would undergo IVF in a surrogate female rhino with sperm from a male rhino, both in Indonesia. 

Indonesia is home to an estimated 100 rhinos. 

Liew said Malaysia would share ownership of the offspring with Indonesia, where it will stay in the  rhino sanctuary, Way Kambas in Lampung. 

“This, of course, can only happen if the Indonesian government agrees officially,” she said.– May 27, 2019.