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SOS
Rhino : In the News
: News From The Field : MONTHLY
FIELD REPORT
APRIL 2004
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MONTHLY FIELD REPORT
APRIL 2004
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SOS Rhino Borneo
Visit of the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment to Sepilok (26 April 2004)
Honorable Datuk Chong Kah Kiat, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment visited Sepilok to get first hand report on works undertaken in the center. Dr. Edwin Bosi and Dr. Petra Kretzschmar, SOS Rhino program officer and Science Director respectively briefed the Honorable Minister on SOS Rhinoís role in Sepilok.
Hon. Datuk Chong Kah Kiat in a discussion with Dr. Edwin Bosi,
Dr. Petra Kretzschmar, Mr. Mahedi Andau (Director of Wildlife Department) and
his officers
Rhino Workshop
The highlight of April was the Workshop on the conservation of the Sumatran rhino held from 29th-30th April 2004 at Shangrila Tanjung Aru Resort (STAR), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. About 35 participants took part and listened to speakers such as Abdul Kadir from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, West Malaysia, Dr. Nico Van Strien from International Rhino Foundation, Indonesia, the Deputy Director of Sabah Wildlife Department Mr. Laurentius Ambu and Dr. Nan Schaffer, Founder and President of SOS Rhino. The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, the Honorable Datuk Hj. Karim Hj. Bujang officiated the workshop.
The one and half day workshop was well publicized by both the local and international press. The workshop resolutions can be summarized as follow:-
In situ conservation
The workshop recommended that surveys should be conducted to determine the presence, distribution and population density of Sumatran rhinos in all the known and unknown rhino habitats. Protection of the habitats must be effective to allow natural increase in the population of rhinos. The workshop also called for the assistance of the military and Police. It is also recommended that the government of Kalimantan, Indonesia, Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia to have a large track of contiguous forestland of about 5000 square km each. This is the Pan-Borneo concept where when there is more rhinos in Sabah, some of them will be relocated to their tradition habitats in Kalimantan and Sarawak.
Ex situ conservation
The workshop acknowledged the problem faced in captive breeding of Sumatran rhinos. Although Cincinnati Zoo was successful in producing one birth on 13th September 2001, other breeding centers such as Sepilok, Sg. Dusun and Way Kambas are facing difficulty. Thus, the workshop recommended several improvements in management, health, nutrition, diagnostic, and also the incorporation of education awareness program.
Pictures of the workshop
Rhino
workshop in progress. Participants listening to a talk given by Mr. Abdul Kadir
from the Wildlife and National Parks Department, West Malaysia
 Dr.
Nan and Dr. Petra facilitating the rhino workshop session
Lahad Datu - Rhino District
Lahad Datu is a coastal town in the east coast of Sabah, Tabin and Danum Valley are within Lahad Datu District and where the Sumatran Rhinosí are found. A rhino statue is erected near the airport to emphasis Lahad Datu as a rhino district.
Nan admiring the sumatran rhino statue near the airport in Lahad
Datu
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