‘Sumatran rhino may have become extinct in peninsula’
PARLIAMENT The Sumatran rhinoceros cannot be traced in the wild in peninsular Malaysia and may have become extinct, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Hamim Samuri said two of these animals - a male and a female - were found on Borneo island, but the female was suffering from cancer and the male was too old.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) who had wanted the government to conduct a comprehensive study on the rhino.
Hamim said several programmes had been implemented for the conservation of wildlife, including installing cameras at almost all forest reserves to trace near-extinct animals.
Answering the original question, from Dr Rosli Che Mat (PAS-Hulu Langat), he said the Wildlife Rescue Plan was initiated to plan, manage and monitor the operations to rescue wildlife.
Furthermore, the Central Forest Spine was initiated to establish a forest network for the conservation of biodiversity, wildlife and the environment, he said.
He also said that the ministry conducted a study on the wildlife population in developed areas to obtain basic data to help the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to determine the current status of wildlife and plan the rescue operations.
“Trapped wildlife are caught, treated and moved to their original habitat or bred in captivity. The department also undertook monitoring and enforcement patrols in areas of conservation such as Taman Negara to fight illegal hunting,” he said.
- Bernama
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