Masidi thankful for Indonesia’s offer of rhino semen

KOTA KINABALU: The health of Malaysia’s last female Sumatran Rhinoceros, Iman is foremost to any breeding program, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

Masidi noted that he was cautiously optimistic and thankful for Indonesia’s announcement to send the semen of a Sumatran rhinoceros for the state’s Advanced Reproductive Technology program last month.

“We will study if and when we receive their actual offer, if there is. I am always cautious. Expression of intention and getting it done are two different things,” the minister told the press at the launch of Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital Lasik Centre here yesterday.

“I must caution you, the offer is one but at the same time you must remember, Iman, our rhino is also having a health problem.

“So there may be an offer but whether she can actually be fertilized, that is another issue that we need to look into,” he added.

Masidi said directives had been given out to get the details of the offer but he hastened to add that the case of extinction should be looked at from a global perspective.

“Nowadays, I think we need to look at the issue as a global issue rather than just our own country’s issue or their own country’s issue. I think we need to help each other and we need to work with one another,” said Masidi.

“After all, if the whole rhino is gone, it is not only a loss to Malaysia, it is a loss to the world.

“I think it should be taken as a global effort, rather than a Malaysian effort or Indonesian effort,” he concluded.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said the health condition of Iman, who suffered from serious blood discharges from the cervix with suspected tumours, had improved.

Although, Iman was still experiencing the discharge, her appetite had improved as she continued to receive treatment.

At the same time, Augustine mentioned that the Indonesian government had agreed to send a sample of Sumatran Rhinoceros semen to Malaysia for the program.

“This has been agreed during the Technical Expert Meeting of both Indonesia and Malaysia which was held in Jakarta last 18-20 October 2017,” he said.

“Hopefully the Memorandum of Agreement for the cooperation in Sumatran Rhinoceros Conservation between the Indonesian and Malaysian governments will be signed soon to allow for the establishment of a joint working group. This will also pave the way for the full implementation of the cooperation.

“We still need to cooperate in terms of expertise. Even if we no longer have our rhino, cooperation will still be there,” added Augustine.