Malaysia Loses Last Male Sumatran Rhino
Malaysia’s last surviving male Sumatran rhino died on Monday in the eastern Borneo state of Sabah, local daily The Star reported.
“Tam the rhino had been receiving intensive care for more than a week for what was suspected to be age-related liver and kidney problems,’’ John Payne, executive director of the Borneo Rhino Alliance, told dpa.
Tam was estimated to have been in his mid-thirties.
He was thought to be no less than 20 years old when he was found wandering in an oil palm plantation in Sabah in 2008 before being rescued by wildlife authorities and placed in a protected reserve.
READ ALSO: Minimum wage will be paid from April 18 –Ngige
The average life expectancy of a Sumatran rhino ranges from 35 to 40 years.
“Tam’s demise leaves just one surviving female rhino, Iman, in Malaysia,’’ The Star reported.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Sumatran rhino is considered a critically endangered species as a result of poaching. The rhinos are poached for their horns, which is used for traditional medicine. There are also instances of illegal encroachment into key rhino habitats.
The issue of dwindling population also means that the remaining rhinos are so isolated that they may rarely, if ever, meet to breed.
(NAN)
“Tam the rhino had been receiving intensive care for more than a week for what was suspected to be age-related liver and kidney problems,’’ John Payne, executive director of the Borneo Rhino Alliance, told dpa.
Tam was estimated to have been in his mid-thirties.
He was thought to be no less than 20 years old when he was found wandering in an oil palm plantation in Sabah in 2008 before being rescued by wildlife authorities and placed in a protected reserve.
READ ALSO: Minimum wage will be paid from April 18 –Ngige
The average life expectancy of a Sumatran rhino ranges from 35 to 40 years.
“Tam’s demise leaves just one surviving female rhino, Iman, in Malaysia,’’ The Star reported.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Sumatran rhino is considered a critically endangered species as a result of poaching. The rhinos are poached for their horns, which is used for traditional medicine. There are also instances of illegal encroachment into key rhino habitats.
The issue of dwindling population also means that the remaining rhinos are so isolated that they may rarely, if ever, meet to breed.
(NAN)
Comments
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: The comments on the blog are the views and opinions of the readers and does not represent that of Confluence Reporters.