Sadly announced ...

Iman, the last Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia, is

gone!

By : Azreen

KOTA KINABALU : After suffering from chronic illness five years ago, the last jaw in
Sumatra, Iman was reported dead at 5.35pm today.
The death news was confirmed by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew in a
media statement.
She said Iman had previously been diagnosed with a growth problem in the rhinocerosal
uterus detected since March 2014.
“Whatever happens, I would like to assure interested parties that our interest to collaborate
with Indonesia remains strong because we want to play our role to help prevent what is
emerging as the first mammal species extinction of the twenty-first century.
“The Memorandum of Understanding that I understand is nearly ready to be signed with
Indonesia includes collaboration on research, reproductive biology, husbandry and exchange
of knowledge and experience,” she said.
She said this to explain the shocking death of Iman.
According to Christina Liew,
 “Together with our collaborators in Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research,
Germany, we in Sabah now have unique experience of managing the sorts of reproductive
pathology that also occur in rhinos in Indonesia, as well as the application of various
advanced reproductive technologies to Sumatran rhinos,” she said.
For the record, the female rhinoceros is the only Sumatran rhinoceros species to survive in
Malaysia after its partner, Tam, died on May 27, due to illness and internal organ failure.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Siti Fitri Bedin gave her opinion on the issue which has been
trending on social media.
“We have experts in various fields, not only at the University of Bogor Agriculture (IPB),
Indonesia but also in Malaysia, Germany and Italy who are committed to play their role in
preventing the eradication of Sumatran rhinoceros.
"Therefore, it is the responsibility of each party to ensure the level of rheumatoid arthritis to
be well controlled," She said.