TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2000
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2000
First bearcat to be born in captivity
Newcomer in Semengoh Wildlife Rehab Centre Dr Hatta checking the baby bearcat. NSTpicKUCHING - The famed Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, about 30km from here, received a newcomer when a binturong or bearcat gave birth on Thursday night.
The mother is the lone female binturong. There are two males at the centre.
It is not known if the cub is a female or male as this would only be known in a few weeks.
The centre's veterinary officer Dr Hatta Ramlee seen here (pic above) with the new offspring said it was the first time a binturong had given birth in captivity.
The centre is also rehabilitating totally protected animals like orang utan. Hundreds of tourists visit the centre daily.
Meawhile, the centre is in a dilemma over how to stop the spread of diseases among the wildlife there after discovering that three of its gibbons are carriers of hepatitis and herpes.
Dr Hatta said the discovery was made after conducting random checks on all the animals a month ago. The centre would put the gibbons, a protected species, to sleep as a last resort. - NST
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