Bora Suggests Single Species Recovery Programme For Sumatran Rhino

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), April 8 (Bernama) -- Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA), a non-governmental organisation, has suggested the setting up of a single species recovery programme for Sumatran rhino to prevent the extinction of the species. As such, its executive director Dr John Payne said the organisation was willing to discuss with the Sabah state government on the matter if the Indonesian government agreed to the idea. He was greatly saddened to learn of the death of Najaq, the first rhino captured in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo in recent times. "Najaq was captured less than 700 kilometres south of the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Sabah, so she might even be distantly related to our rhinos. "We recall the cordial visit of the Indonesian government representatives and WWF-Indonesia in early 2015 to observe our captive rhinos. We would value collaboration through the mutual exchange of information and expertise. "If Indonesia should so desire, we can bring to the state government the idea of sharing Sabah's remaining rhinos, or their gametes, in support of Indonesia's efforts to save this ancient species," he said in a statement Thursday. BORA is the organisation entrusted with the care of the last three Malaysian Sumatran rhinos in Sabah. Meanwhile, BORA chairman Dr Abdul Hamid Ahmad applauded the Indonesian government decision to rescue the remaining rhinos in Kalimantan. "Although Najaq's death is tragic, we stand with and encourage Indonesia to continue its rescue efforts," he said. Abdul Hamid said the capture of isolated Sumatran rhinos is indeed inherently risky, but leaving isolated animals in a place where they cannot find a mate and breed has far greater risks for a critically endangered species with a global population of less than 100. "Protection and habitat restoration are no longer sufficient to ensure the Sumatran rhino's survival," he added. -- BERNAMA