ISKL raises funds for rhinos

Feb 01 2017

ISKL raises funds for rhinos

As part of efforts to raise funds for BORA, in December 2016 students from the International School of Kuala Lumpur’s (ISKL) MS Art Department created an installation of ceramic rhinos. Each of the ceramic rhinos were made available for adoption at a price of RM50 each. In addition, a special limited edition tshirt was also produced by one of the parents and the proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts also went to this innovative fundraising effort.

Thanks to the enthusiastic support from the students, teachers and parents from ISKL, a total of RM11,385 was raised. This sum will go directly to the ongoing care of the three rhinos at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Sabah.

Dec 19 2016

Critically endangered species: Fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos left

NST Online 18 Dec 2016 by Olivia Mivil: ALL the remaining Sumatran rhinos in Malaysia and Indonesia, which number less than 100, should be managed as a single population to facilitate the reproduction of the critically-endangered species.

Researchers believe only a few of the species are left in Malaysia. Two females, Puntong and Iman, and a middle-aged male, named Kertam, have been relocated to the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu, Sabah. Puntong, 20, had her front left foot torn off in a hunter’s snare trap when she was an infant, while Iman was the last wild rhino to be captured in Danum Valley, Sabah, in 2014. Both have problems conceiving due to the conditions of their reproductive system. Iman, despite being diagnosed with severe fibroids in the uterus, can still produce eggs.

Sabah-based Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora) executive director Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne says over a period of two-and-a-half years, 15 Sumatran rhino eggs have been obtained from Iman and Puntong. Bora’s role is to care for rhinos in the sanctuary, and seek and capture rhinos in the wild. All rhino eggs have been used for in-vitro fertilisation efforts, but have yet to yield results. “We need more females in the programme to secure the first embryo faster and work out the protocols and conditions for success,” Payne says. He says many factors affect the success of fertilisation, including old age, poor quality of sperm and eggs and other infertility-related conditions. Factors that need to be considered include the optimum pH level, ideal temperature and protein requirements for the egg maturation liquid during procedures at the laboratory. On the male rhino’s part, its sperm can be frozen with liquid nitrogen, so that it can be used later for in-vitro fertilisation.

Payne says even though about a quarter of all remaining Sumatran rhinos have significant fertility issues, efforts to boost the reproduction rate are in the pipeline through advanced reproductive and cellular technologies. “We should not rely on hope to save the endangered species in the wild. In the past few decades, there have been too few individuals in any one area to form a viable breeding population,” he says, quashing a recent report by a researcher on the possible discovery of a rhino footprint in the Danum Valley conservation area.

Last year, Malaysia declared that there were no more Sumatran rhinos in the wild. Since 2006, an experienced field team from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia has been searching for rhino footprints. Tens of thousands of hours of footage have been recorded, but no trace of rhinos have been found. However, during a survey between Aug 16 and Aug 29 at the conservation area, WWF Sabah Terrestrial Conservation Programme manager Sharon Koh Pei Hui said the team spotted a 23cm-wide footprint that might be from a Sumatran rhino. Payne says it was inconceivable that a half-tonne mammal would leave a vague outline of a single footprint, with no other signs of its existence in the vicinity.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga says discussions with the department’s Indonesian counterpart was underway to cooperate on rhino breeding. He says government is committed to conserving the critically endangered species. “In-vitro fertilisation requires experts and high technology to increase the success rate. “For now, we are relying on expertise from Germany, and the cost for each fertilisation attempt is about RM300,000.” To support the effort, the Federal Government has allocated RM11.9 million for advanced reproductive technology for rhinos.

Read the article on NST Online : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/12/197796/critically-endangered-species-fewer-100-sumatran-rhinos-left

Dec 14 2016

Cash-strapped rhino groups turn to crowdfunding, with little success

In a desperate effort to stave off the extinction of Bornean and northern white rhinos, conservation groups in Malaysia and Kenya are appealing to the public to fund high-tech assisted reproduction efforts. 28 November 2016 / Jeremy Hance

Tam, one of the captive Bornean rhinos representing hope for assisted reproduction efforts. Photo by Jeremy Hance

Introduction from BORA: Many thanks to Jeremy Hance and Mongabay for yet again playing an important role in drawing attention to the Sumatran rhino. I would like to highlight two points. Sumatran rhino represents a genus, not a sub-species. Without new action, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis will be the first terrestrial mammal genus to go extinct since the thylacine in 1936. We should no longer continue with the idea of keeping the Sumatran and Bornean forms separate, but treat them as one species to be saved under one program to boost births of the genus.

Secondly, whatever happens with the now non-viable Bornean sub-species and to Borneo Rhino Alliance, Indonesia has to step up with a genus recovery program that incorporates Indonesian and Malaysian rhinos, and Bornean and Sumatran sub-species. Without that, Indonesia will take the blame when the genus does go extinct, under current trends around 2030. However, the Government of Indonesia should not take the blame. It is about time that IUCN, WWF, International Rhino Foundation and Indonesian Rhino Foundation give rational, consistent, clear and scientific advice to Government of Indonesia on exactly what needs to be done. Funds urgently need to be allocated to serious efforts to save the genus.

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Cash-strapped rhino groups turn to crowdfunding, with little success

There’s probably only one thing left that can save the Bornean rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni): cutting-edge, high cost in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology. This subspecies of the Critically Endangered Sumatran rhino is represented by a dwindling handful of survivors in the wild – one of whom just perished when conservationists tried to move her this year – and three individuals living in captivity. The captive rhinos, one male and two females, are incapable of natural reproduction due to fertility problems. Extinction is on the horizon unless IVF is able to start producing rhino babies – and fast.

The technical difficulties are high – including the fact that IVF has never been successfully done with any of the world’s five rhino species – but the biggest hurdle may actually be something much more prosaic: money.

“Donors want to be assured that the animal will not go extinct on them in the next few years,” said John Payne, the executive director of the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA). “It is much safer to put money into a threatened species than it is to put money into a species that is on the edge of extinction.”

Read the full article on Mongabay

Nov 13 2016

The struggle to breed Sumatran rhinos in captivity (Articles from Mongabay)

Mongabay has published two articles on Sumatran rhino which summarise nicely the story of attempts to save the genus from extinction. Wisely, the articles leave out the doomed attempts (still supported by many conservationists) to keep these rhinos in the wild, knowing that each scattered sub-population was and is too small to ensure survival.

Part 1: From Indonesia to Ohio: the struggle to breed Sumatran rhinos in captivity
By Linda Lombardi
3 November 2016

emi-suci-awesome-copy-baby-suci-and-her-mother-emi-in-their-enclosure-photo-courtesy-of-the-cincinnati-zoo — Rhino calf Emi and her mother Suci in their enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. Photo from the Cincinnati Zoo.

In a desperate attempt to reverse a rapid population decline, a captive breeding program for Sumatran rhinos was launched in 1984. Forty rhinos were successfully moved to zoos and sanctuaries, but researchers soon found their troubles were just beginning. (Read the whole article on Mongabay)

Part 2: From Ohio to Indonesia: captive-bred Sumatran rhinos may be the species’ only hope for a future

By Linda Lombardi

8 November 2016

ratu-and-baby-andatu-courtesy-of-irf — Ratu with baby Andatu, the first calf born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. Photo from the the International Rhino Foundation.

With the last of the American-born Sumatran rhinos now living in Indonesia, chances for this critically endangered species are once again firmly rooted in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, researchers in Malaysian Borneo are in an even more desperate race against time. (Read the whole article on Mongabay)

Oct 03 2016

Join the Sumatran rhinos in a race against extinction

By SHEELA CHANDRAN, Star2, September 13 2016

The clock is ticking for the critically endangered Sumatran rhinos. There are only three rhinos left in Malaysia and conservationists are working tirelessly to save these animals from extinction.

In a span of six years, only three of the species have been captured from the jungles of Sabah – a male named Tam (found in 2008) and two females, Puntung (2011) and Iman (2014). The Sumatran rhinos have been relocated to the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary at Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR), a 1,225sq km nature preserve in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

It was built in 1984 to preserve the state’s disappearing wild animals. Over there, Sabah-based NGO Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora) has been taking great pains to ensure the survival of these gentle giants.

With three rhinos found within six years, could there be a glimmer of hope that more rhinos are roaming Sabah’s jungles? Sadly, Bora’s executive director Datuk Dr John Payne says the chances are close to zero.

“Bora and WWF-Malaysia have been searching for these endangered animals at Danum Valley Conservation Area (also in Lahad Datu) and TWR for decades. Sumatran rhinos are distinctive animals, easily found by their footprints or captured on camera traps. If there aren’t any evidence within three months, it is safe to conclude that there aren’t any rhinos present,” explains Payne, 62, during the premiere of National Geographic Channel’s Operation Sumatran Rhino.

The documentary follows Bora’s efforts (led by Payne and veterinarian/field manager Dr Zainal Zainuddin) to drive public awareness of the rhino’s plight.

The documentary will air on National Geographic Wild (Astro Ch 550) on Sept 19.

Rhinos are solitary animals and there is the problem of breeding due to designated home ranges, says Dr Zainal.

“Female Sumatran rhinos have their own home ranges and male rhinos have theirs, too. Usually, the male’s home range overlaps several home ranges of females. However, if a male dies and there are no other males around, the females go unbred,” explains Dr Zainal, who has been with Bora since 2010.

Dr Zainal Zainuddin feeding Iman a nutritious diet.

Online news website usatoday.com in its article, 13 Species We Might Have To Say Goodbye To In 2015, states that the world is losing dozens of species every day in what experts say is the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history.

The report highlights that as many as 30% to 50% of all species are moving towards extinction by mid-century. It lists the rhino as one of the planet’s most endangered animals alongside the amur leopard, leatherback turtle and Siberian tiger.

The Sumatran rhinos were declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015. There are fewer than 100 of the species left, which are mostly found in the jungles of Kalimantan and Sumatra. If no efforts are taken, our children may never be able to see these animals, except in a picture book.

Bora’s website (www.borneorhinoalliance.org) states that due to a thousand years of relentless hunting throughout Asia for their horns, Sumatran rhino numbers were severely depressed by the early 20th century. Habitat loss from human population growth and farming further affected the population. But these two problems have combined to create a different threat – a lack of breeding.

Although the simplest tactic to increase the Sumatran rhino’s population would be to reproduce calfs (between existing rhinos in Malaysia and Indonesia), no fertility programme has been conceptualised between both countries, says Payne.

“It does not matter where the rhinos are housed because semen and eggs can be moved between facilities, or rhinos moved on loan from one place to another. For it to work out, all remaining living Sumatran rhinos must be absorbed into the programme,” explains the British rhino expert who has been involved with efforts to prevent the extinction of critically endangered species since the 1970s.

Dr Zainal hopes Indonesia shares the same mindset as the country could face the same problem as Malaysia in years to come.

“The more trials on assisted reproductive technology (ART) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the higher the chances of saving a genus from extinction. It would help us greatly as we have only the last three rhinos. The kind of collaboration that we want is a supply of frozen sperm from Indonesia to use for IVF with eggs from our females,” says the 58-year-old vet, adding that there are plans to cryogenically freeze (low-temperature preservation) Sumatran rhino gametes (if an animal dies) and work on cell cultures for future propagation, including cloning.

Payne chips in: “These methods are being done in Malaysia. The issue is the lack of eggs and sperm for practice, that are holding up progress on this. Hopefully we will receive support from the Indonesian Government to pursue the necessary strategy to save the species from extinction.”

Despite the best medical assistance, there is an underlying health problem: female rhinos tend to develop cysts or tumours in the uterus and reproductive tracts, a syndrome associated with long periods without breeding, explains Payne.

“Two years ago, Malaysia attempted its first IVF on two female Sumatran rhinos. So far, only 12 eggs have been harvested but some were of poor quality. There’s also the problem of transporting eggs to specialist IVF laboratories in Europe and Kuala Lumpur,” says Payne, who hopes to obtain several good eggs every month and a lab nearer to Tabin to boost chances of IVF success.

Dr Zainal says another issue is that the rhinos are old, resulting in fewer eggs for IVF trials.

“In Malaysia, we do not have a choice but to use semen from an old male and eggs from two old females. To make matters worse, our females have various reproductive issues,” says Dr Zainal.

Despite the hurdles, these conservationists are not about to give up. In fact, they are even more determined to ensure the survival of the Sumatran rhinos.

“We will keep them (the last three) alive and healthy and productive (for eggs and sperm). We will not give up working on collaborations with Indonesia and the rest of the world. And lastly, we will continue to look for rhinos if at all they exist and hope for the best,” adds Dr Zainal.
Read more at http://www.star2.com/living/animals/2016/09/13/join-sumatran-rhinos-race-extinction/#feqtPgdUyfy48PpD.9