KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia's last female Sumatran rhinoceros has regained her health after receiving treatment for uterine tumour last year.
Iman who resides at the Borneo Rhinoceros Sanctuary (BRS) in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu is the last of her kind in this country after her partner Kertam died of old age and internal organ failure on May 27.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said although she was still receiving follow-up treatment to prevent the tumour from becoming worse, Iman is now back to her normal self and her appetite has completely improved.
He said the rhinoceros is also prepared to undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment with the sperm of a male Sumatran rhinoceros via a collaboration with Indonesia.
They were now waiting for help from an expert in Germany.
However, taking into consideration the tumour that plagued Iman, she could no longer get pregnant despite still producing eggs.
In a bid to save the Sumatran rhinoceros species in this country, the IVF treatment, with the use of sperm from a male Sumatran rhinoceros from Indonesia, will have to go through a surrogate female rhinoceros, also from Indonesia.
Augustine explained that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would have to be signed with Indonesia before the process is carried out so that there will be no issue on which country hold's rights on the baby rhinoceros.
Iman is 23-years-old and was captured in Lembah Danum, Lahad Datu in 2014 before she was moved to the Lahad Datu Wildlife Reserve and subsequently to the BRS upon the sancuary's completion last year.
The sanctuary is handled by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) on behalf of the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Iman was found to have uterine tumour which led to severe bleeding of her uterus last year. Continuous treatment however managed to save her.
Two days ago, Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Christina Liew visited BRS to see Iman, and find out if she was ready to undergo the IVF treatment.
Earlier this month, Liew led a delegation of state representatives and the Sabah Wildlife Department to Indonesia to discuss about conservation efforts for the Sumatran rhinoceros.
Liew previously said, the MoU was scheduled to be signed in Indonesia next month.