Malaysia: Govt combs jungles for surviving Sumatran rhinos

NURADZIMMAH DAIM New Straits Times 17 Nov 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is carrying out surveys in Malaysian forests in the hopes of finding more Sumatran rhinoceroses, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said there was currently only a pair left in Sabah.

"The female was reported sick with a type of cancerous disease, while the male is already old.

As for the peninsular, there is none left.

We are carrying out surveys including with the use of cameras installed in our forests to verify this.

The survey, which is also carried out on other species is to enable the Wildlife Department to gather data on the status of the animals and plan conservation operations.

We also encourage inventory-making by non-governmental organisation (NGOs),” he said.

Hamim added that the ministry, through the Wildlife Department is carrying out efforts to conserve animals that are facing extinction due to deforestation for development purposes.

The effort - known as Wildlife Rescue Plan was established to plan, manage and monitor the rescue efforts.

"The Central Forest Spine project was also established to form a connected forest network and reduce deforestation," he said in reply to a question by Che Rosli Che Mat (Pas-Hulu Langat).

It was reported that the rare species is now facing extinction following a report by Oryx, an international scientific journal on conservation.