Sabah Wildlife Department thrilled to hear Indonesia will send Sumatran rhino sperm

OLIVIA MIWIL New Straits Times 25 Jan 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Wildlife Department welcomes the news of the Indonesian government agreeing to send the semen of a Sumatran rhinoceros for its Advanced Reproductive Technology programme, said director Augustine Tuuga.

"This has been agreed during the Technical Expert Meeting between Indonesia and Malaysia, held in October last year in Jakarta.

"Hopefully the Memorandum of Agreement for the cooperation in Sumatran rhinoceros conservation between the Indonesian and Malaysian governments will be signed soon to allow for the establishment of a joint working group," he said in a statement, adding that the agreement will also pave the way for the full implementation of the cooperation.

Augustine was responding to a report by an online portal a quoting senior official of Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry, hinting that the sperm of Andalas, their captive-bred rhinoceros, might be sent to Malaysia this year.

The plan is to fertilise Andalas' sperm with viable egg of Malaysia's only female rhino, Iman, who is being kept at Tabin Wildlife in Lahad Datu under the care of Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA).

If the fertilisation takes place, the embryo will be sent back and implanted in one of the female rhinoceros at the Indonesian sanctuary.

Meanwhile, BORA head John Payne was quoted as sharing the same sentiment as Augustine on the plan that could boost rhinoceros births.

He had said that there is an increased urgency to step up the captive-breeding programme for the species.

The country lost another female rhino, Puntung, last year in June due to skin cancer. Iman is currently suffering from uterus cancer since last month and has shown slow recovery.


Ensuring the rhinos stay alive
stephanie lee The Star 27 Jan 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is hopeful that the Sumatran rhino has a chance of survival with Indonesia agreeing in principle to send a rhino semen sample.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said the Indonesian government has somewhat agreed to send a sample for the Advanced Reproductive Technology programme.

He said this was agreed during the Technical Expert Meeting held in Jakarta from Oct 18 to 20 last year.

“Hopefully, the memorandum of agreement for the cooperation in Sumatran Rhinoceros Conservation between Indonesia and Malaysia will be signed soon to allow for the setting up of a joint working group,” Tunga told reporters yesterday.


Ministry of Environment and Forestry head of conservation Wiratno said they considered all aspects of the request by the Malaysian Government and had submitted their views to the environment minister.

“If approved, the plan would be to combine the sperm from Andalas, a captive-bred rhino at the SRS with viable eggs from Iman, Malaysia’s last known female rhino,” he said.

However, Iman would not carry the fertilised eggs, as she is still recovering from a burst uterine tumour.

Tuuga said a surrogate rhino from Indonesia would most probably carry the fertilised eggs.

“This collaboration is vital for the survival of this species,” he said.

He said although Iman was unwell, they were lucky to have harvested healthy eggs from her previously.

“We hope she recovers soon so that we can harvest more eggs,” Tuuga said.

Iman is slowly on the road to recovery.


Sabah seeking more information on Indonesia's offer for advanced reproductive programme
AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 3 Feb 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will obtain further detail on Indonesia’s recent offer to provide the semen of its Sumatran rhinoceros for an advanced reproductive programme.

Sabah Tourism, Cultural, and Environmental Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said although it was just an announcement, getting it done is important.

“I am very cautious because the expression of intention and getting it done are two different things.

“I hope it is confirmed. We thank the Indonesian government for the offer and I will ask my officers to get detail on what are they actually offering,” he said after launching the Lasik service and #LoseTheGlasses campaign at Gleneagles Hospital, here.

Masidi was commenting to the announcement by Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry that the sperm of their captive-bred rhinoceros - Andalas - might be sent to Malaysia this year for its Advanced Reproductive Technology programme.

The plan is to fertilise Andalas’ sperm with viable egg of Malaysia’s only female rhino, Iman, which is being kept at Tabin Wildlife in Lahad Datu under the care of Borneo Rhino Alliance.

If the fertilisation takes place, the embryo will be sent back and implanted in one of the female rhinoceros at the Indonesian sanctuary.

While welcoming announcement, Masidi stressed the health condition of Iman needed to be examined.

“We must remember Iman has health problem. There may be an offer but whether Iman can be fertilised or not is another issue we need to look into.

“All I can say is we need to look at this matter as a global issue and not just our country and Indonesia’s issue.

“Afterall, if the whole rhinocerous is gone then it is not just a lost to Malaysia but the world. This hasto be a global effort to save the rhino species,” said Masidi.

In June last year, Malaysia lost a female rhino, Puntung, due to skin cancer.

Iman is currently suffering from uterus cancer since last month and has shown slow recovery.