KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife experts here remain hopeful about the future of the highly endangered Sumatran rhino following a rare picture of a 20-year-old female that is believed to be pregnant.
The picture of the female rhino was captured by remote camera trap devices set up jointly by the Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF-Malaysia.
The picture was considered rare as there were estimated to be less than 30 rhinos left on the entire island of Borneo.
International Rhino expert Dr. Terri Roth said she was hoping that the female rhino was indeed pregnant.
"There are so few Sumatran rhinos left in the world that each calf represents a lifeline for the species, she said here Tuesday.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Dr Laurentius Ambu said the department was working with WWF-Malaysia and the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) to finalise the Rhino Action Plan that which would be expected to be ready for full implementation by August this year.
The plan would address the conservation plans of the viable population including isolated rhinos, Dr Laurentius added.
He said his department intended to take a "different" approach in managing the viable but isolated rhino population in Sabah.
Habitat protection and enforcement have been recognised as the main strategy in order to ensure the survival of the viable rhino population in forest reserves, while a breeding programme has been identified as the key strategy in order to address the conservation plan for the isolated rhinos, Dr Laurentius added.
The rhino breeding programme is currently supported by Sime Darby, the Malaysian federal government and WWF-Malaysia.
The future of rhinos in Borneo now depends on how seriously the enforcement and security work in the forest reserves can be implemented and coordinated, said Raymond Alfred, Head of the Borneo Species Programme, WWF-Malaysia.
The monitoring and survey work in the central forest of Sabah is currently supported by HONDA Malaysia, WWF-Netherlands, WWF-Germany and USFWS since 2005.
WWF-Malaysia is working with the department and the Sabah Forestry Department to look into reinforcing the security of the forest reserves that are the key habitats for the animals.
Alfred noted that that data from an ongoing rhino monitoring and survey programme showed that the animals' home range was affected by oil palm plantation expansion near the state's coastal areas.
The research also indicated that sustainable logging activities had minimal impact on the rhino population while conversion of forests especially those located adjacent to key rhino habitat into other mono-crop plantations such as oil palm would further worsen the fragmentation of the rhino population.
Images of Rhino believed to be pregnant, captured in Borneo
WWF Malaysia 21 Apr 10;
Kota Kinabalu – Images of the near-extinct Sumatran rhino believed to be a pregnant female, estimated to be below twenty years old, was captured by Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF-Malaysia’s remote camera trap devices, thus strengthening the argument to maintain and improve the enforcement and security of the forest and wildlife reserves in this part of the region. At the moment, the rhino population is estimated to be less than 30 in Borneo. International Rhino expert Dr. Terri Roth commented that, “It would be wonderful if this female is pregnant, since there are so few Sumatran rhinos left in the world that each calf represents a lifeline for the species.”
Dr. Laurentius Ambu, the Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, highlights the importance of strong and co-ordinated enforcement in the forest and wildlife reserves by the relevant government agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) in order to ensure the survival of this species in Borneo’s forests. Presently, WWF-Malaysia is working closely with Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Foundation, with the support from the Royal Malaysian Police, to ensure the safety and survival of this endangered species in Borneo. Dr. Laurentius mentioned that consistent monitoring of the rhino population here has been productive so far, as two rhino calves has been identified in this part of regions. Sabah Wildlife Department is currently working closely with WWF-Malaysia and Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) to finalise the Rhino Action Plan which will be expected to be ready for full implementation by August 2010. The “Rhino Action Plan” will address the conservation plans of the viable population including isolated rhinos. He emphasises that his department will have a different approach in managing the viable and isolated rhino population in Sabah. Habitat protection and enforcement has been recognised as the main strategy in order to ensure the survival of the viable rhino population in forest reserves, whilst rhino breeding programme has been identified as the key strategy in order to address the conservation plan for the isolated rhinos. The rhino breeding programme is currently supported by Sime Darby, the Malaysian federal government and WWF-Malaysia.
“The future of rhinos in Borneo now depends on how seriously the enforcement and security work in the forest reserves can be implemented and coordinated,” said Raymond Alfred, Head of the Borneo Species Programme, WWF-Malaysia. The monitoring and survey work in the central forest of Sabah is currently supported by HONDA Malaysia, WWF-Netherlands, WWF-Germany and USFWS since 2005. WWF-Malaysia is joining forces with Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Department to look into reinforcing the security of the forest reserves where rhino inhabits.
Alfred mentioned that the data gathered from a continuing rhino monitoring and survey programme in this part of region shows that: (i) the home range of the rhinos is affected by oil palm expansion near the coastline, (ii) sustainable logging activities have minimal impact on the rhino population, and (iii) forest conversion of the natural forests, especially those located adjacent to key habitat for the rhino, into other mono-plantation (particularly oil palm) would further worsen the fragmentation of the rhino population. WWF-Malaysia believes that full espousal and co-operation from the relevant land developers and forest managers, to restore the corridor and also address illegal encroachment would help support the survival of rhinos in Sabah.
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Endangered Sumatran Rhino Caught on Camera on Borneo Island
Jakarta Globe 21 Apr 10;
Wildlife experts on Wednesday were beaming over new photos of a rare Sumatran rhinoceros, thought to be pregnant, in Malaysian Borneo, saying a new calf would be a lifeline for the near-extinct species.
Only 30 rhinos are thought to remain in the wild on Borneo island, and researchers are only able to monitor the reclusive animals through images captured on remote camera traps.
The news comes after Ratu, a young female Sumatran rhino at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, had a miscarriage last month, seen as a major blow to efforts to pull the species back from the brink.
Images of the Borneo rhino, believed to be a pregnant female under 20 years old, were captured by a camera trap in February, the Malaysian branch of the World Wildlife Fund said in a statement.
“There are so few Sumatran rhinos left in the world that each calf represents a lifeline for the species,” international rhino expert Terry Roth said.
The Borneo subspecies is the rarest of all rhinos, distinguished from other Sumatran rhinos by its relatively small size, small teeth and distinctively shaped head.
The Sumatran rhino is one of the world’s most endangered species, with only small pockets left on Sumatra, in the north of Borneo and on peninsular Malaysia.
Laurentius Ambu, wildlife director for Malaysia’s Sabah state, where the rhino was spotted, said two rhino calves had also been seen in the same area and urged the central government to do more. “Habitat protection and enforcement have been recognized as the main strategies in ensuring the survival of the rhino population in forest reserves,” he said.
The WWF said the rhino’s future on Borneo depended on efforts to preserve its habitat, which was under threat from expanding palm oil plantations.