Veterinarian shifts focus to wildlife food production after last extinct rhinos

LAHAD DATU: One may mistake Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin for a plant expert rather than a veterinarian.

During a recent media visit to Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Zainal, the field manager of Bring Back Our Rare Animals (BORA), revealed that the Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records in 2021 for housing Malaysia's largest collection of Ficus species.

The centre has successfully bred over 90 out of the 150 Ficus species found in Sabah.

Despite his age of 64, Zainal displayed the energy and enthusiasm of a young man as he passionately explained the characteristics of various Ficus species, including their leaves, figs, cultivation methods, and decisions regarding their conservation.

He added that Ficus trees exhibited faster growth and bore more fruit compared to other trees, making them ideal for feeding a variety of animals.

The centre played a crucial role in cultivating food specifically for Sabah's last three Sumatran rhinos – Puntung, Kertam, and Iman – who resided at the nearby Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin.

Iman's death in 2019, after a long battle with uterine tumours, signified the extinction of her species.

Kertam died in the same year in May while Puntung was euthanised in June, 2017.

To honour their memory, Zainal carved a personal tribute on a stone at the rhinos' burial site within the centre, a testament to his years of dedication in preserving the species until their last moments.

"(Shifting my focus to food production) is just adapting; the passion for wildlife is still there," he said.

Zainal began his career as a veterinarian with Perhilitan in 1985 but moved to Sabah in 2010 to care for the rhinos.

Reflecting on their efforts to encourage reproduction, he stated, "For those rhinos, we tried various methods to prolong their lives and stimulate breeding.

"However, as they had already gone through the basics of survival and were at a critical stage, there was only so much we could do to save them."

With nearly 40 years of experience, Zainal acknowledged that neglecting crucial factors such as providing quality food availability for these species would result in a losing battle for conservation.

He said that while connectivity was often emphasised during seminars, addressing the basic needs of animals was equally crucial to promote successful reproduction.

"Rather than solely focusing on the population of a particular species, it is essential to consider the concept of different age groups within the group.

"A healthy and viable species is characterised by the presence of calves, cubs, and other young animals.

"Ensuring their continued reproduction requires providing them with good quality food and adequate minerals."

Formerly known as the Borneo Rhino Alliance, BORA has now rebranded itself as Bring Back Our Rare Animals following the extinction of the rhinos, offering more opportunities for other endangered species to thrive and survive.

For its executive director, Datuk Dr John Payne, who had also been involved with the rhinos from the 1970s until 2019, his ultimate dream would be to see the world adopt wildlife management practices rather than mere conservation.

Payne added that the Bornean Banteng, despite resembling other cattles, should be prioritised as they might be the next species facing extinction.

Due to the conversion of their habitat, the Banteng population has suffered from food deprivation, particularly their preferred grass, resulting in a decline in their numbers.

Currently, only 326 Bantengs remain in Sabah, with 52 of them located in Tabin.

"We have decided to develop pastures here, and it seems to be working," Payne said, referring to the collaboration with WWF-Malaysia on the 2.5-kilometer Banteng Pastures in Tabin here.

The project is funded by Beiersdorf AG and supported by the Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Department.

It has started to yield positive outcomes in terms of the species' viability.

There were two calves born each year between 2019 and 2021. Last year, there were six while this year, four calves were born and at least two cows are heavily pregnant to date.

The camera traps also revealed that the body mass of these Bantengs  increased in comparison to before the intervention.