Malaysia’s last Sumatran rhino dies

The last Sumatran rhino in Malaysia has died after a battle with cancer. The rhino, named Iman, died at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Sabah on Saturday afternoon

Malaysia’s cultural and tourism minister announced that it was “…with great sadness that the Sabah Wildlife Department announces the death of Iman, the last Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia.”

“The death was natural and the immediate cause was categorised as shock. Iman was given the very best care and attention, from her capture in 2014 right up to the moment she passed. No one could have done more.”

Iman nearly died several times in the past due to blood loss from uterine tumours.

“The team at the sanctuary provided round the clock support and successfully brought her back to good health and egg cell production on several occasions.”

Sabah’s Wildlife Department director said Iman’s death came sooner than expected.

“But we knew that she was starting to suffer from the growing pressure of the tumours into the bladder.”

Earlier in the day a veterinarian at the sanctuary had suggested using morphine, as other painkillers were becoming ineffective. Iman’s carcass is being preserved, and there is still hope of obtaining egg cells for a proposed Malaysia/Indonesia collaboration on this species.

SOURCE: the star.com.my