Sabah going all out to step up wildlife protection efforts

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is getting all parties including villagers and wildlife rangers to be part of wildlife protection efforts following the failed attempt to prevent the Sumatran rhino from going extinct in Malaysia.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (pic) said she was not sure what happened to the rhinos over the past decade but now was not the time to dwell on it but to move forward.

"We will do our best to protect the other remaining wildlife in Sabah, including endangered species such as the banteng (wild buffalo) and pygmy elephants, as well as protected species such as the orang utan, proboscis monkeys and sun bears," she said.

She said it was the government's policies to have villagers and local communities partner with wildlife rangers and the Wildlife Department to prevent the killing of protected species in Sabah.

"We need to get all in Sabah to be on board in our struggle to prevent the extinction of another species," Liew said.

She said stricter enforcement for wildlife related offences was also important for this cause.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said the department has prepared management plans for most of the endangered and protected species in Sabah.

"We will not comment further on our efforts yet, but rest assured we are moving as fast as we can to salvage what we have left," he said.

Sabah's remaining two rhinos, Tam and Iman, are in no shape to reproduce due to old age and illness.

Tam, the last surviving male rhino, is suffering from liver and kidney damage and is already under palliative care.