Breeding programme halted after fifth Sumatran Rhino dies

By AUDREY EDWARDS

PETALING JAYA: The only remaining Sumatran rhinoceros at the Sungai Dusun conservation centre in Selangor died yesterday, bringing a halt to the centre’s breeding programme. 

It was the fifth captive rhino to die in less than a month. 

The female rhino Mas Merah died at 2.45pm. 

Malaysian Rhino Foundation chairman Mohd Khan Momin Khan said Mas Merah’s death meant that there were no more Sumatran rhinos in captivity in Peninsular Malaysia. 

“In the morning we were told that she was able to stand and sit. 

“But the rangers looking after her will have to tell us what happened in the hours before her death,” he said, adding that the centre’s veterinarian Dr Aidi Mohamad would carry out the post-mortem.  

On Saturday, Minah, who was born in captivity at the Malacca Zoo in 1987, died. 

Three others – Seputih, Ara and Panjang – which were caught in the wild, died on Oct 29, Nov 9 and Nov 10 respectively. 

Mohd Khan said as the centre could not determine the cause of the illness, it was unable to provide the exact treatment.  

“We have all been working hard for the past three weeks and everyone is tired and exhausted. 

“The rhinos were given medication like antibiotics, vitamin B-Complex, vitamin C and a glucose drip,” he said. 

Mohd Khan said the rhinos had shown similar behaviour such as laboured breathing and the inability to stand or sit before their death.  

He said it would take about a week to get the post-mortem results and establish the cause of death. 

“Right now, it seems that the same causes have been responsible for the deaths,” he said. 

Mohd Khan said the centre should continue with the breeding programme. 

“The most important thing is to prevent the extinction of the Sumatran species,” he said.  

There are more than 100 such rhinos in the wild while two of its subspecies are in captivity in Sabah.
 

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