Khan, M., 1989. Asian Rhinos: an action plan for their conservation. Gland, IUCN, pp. i-iv, 1-23
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Malaysia - Peninsular |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Action Plan recommendations
Taman Negara and Endau Rompin
a. Constant surveillance shuld be carried out on these populations. As a matter ofg the highest priority, the state governments of Pahang and johor should be enbcouraged to designate Endau Rompin as a national park.
b. Extensive habitat evaluation should be carried out to determine the carrying capacity of the areas. This information is important to determine whether these are suitable sites for the future release of animals translocated from doomed populations.
Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve (Peninsular Malaysia)
a. The ?gene pool' concept, in which rhinos would be managed in a semi-wild state, should be implemented at this site. The founder population may consist of five breeding females and at least two sexually mature bulls.
Malacca Zoo (Peninsular Malaysia)
b. A captive breeding stock of at least two males and four females should be established.
c.TheARSG should pool all essential data from attempts at captive breeding of the species (including from attempts outside Malaysia) in order to ensure that maximum possible use is made of the limited supply of animals. Such data would include aspects of physiology, pathology, parasitology, feeding, growth and reproduction. The computer database facility at Malacca needs to be upgraded for this purpose. This database would be of use to other breeding facilities at Sungai Dusun, Tabin, Ragunan Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and Howletts and Port Lympne Zoo. In this way, Malacca Zoo would act as a reference centre for the overall captive breeding programme.
Other areas in Peninsular Malaysia
d. Rhinos in isolated and threatened areas will be captured for the ?gene pool' and captive breeding programme at Malacca zoo. When these facilities have reached the maximum holding capacity, the newly captured animals could be relocated in Taman Negara and Endau Rompin. It is also proposed that the Malaysian animals largely be kept within the country for the time being for the following reasons:
- That no mixing of animals from the four major regions of the range be undertaken until there has been adequate genetic investigation of any significant differences between these geographically disjuncy populations.
- That all the animals now currently being caught are prioritised for the captive breeding and gene pool programme, which will require between 10 and 20 animals. Once sufficient animals are available for the breeding programmes in the Peninsula, and if it can be shown that they are genetically similar to animals from other areas, then further animals, if caught, could be considered for overseas captive breeding programmes.
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Asian Rhinos: an action plan for their conservation
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