KOTA KINABALU: Efforts to ensure the survival of the Sumatran rhinoceros, especially in Sabah, have not ceased, says state tourism, culture and environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
He admitted that with the poor health of Iman, the only female rhino in captivity, efforts had become more difficult.
“Considering that she (Iman) is the only one left, to me, that is even more difficult (to save Sumatran rhinos from extinction).
“You know, when you only have one left, sometimes you have to think twice before engaging in a treatment that has not been proven yet,” he said when met by reporters after opening the Camaca Gelato Concept Cafe here yesterday.
Masidi said there had been a lot of suggestions and theories on how to treat Iman, but so far, none were successful.
Nevertheless, he was pleased the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), through its cooperation with various bodies, continued to work hard to ensure the survival of the rhino species.
“They (SWD) have probably found and been in touch with someone best in the treatment of rhinos,” he noted.
Iman has been battling uterine leiomyoma tumour when she began bleeding in her uterus on Dec 14 last year.
She is the only female rhino in captivity in the country after the death of Puntung in June last year due to cancer. — Bernama