Photo: AP/Shutterstock
Iman, a female Sumatran rhino residing at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, died recently, losing her battle to cancer, according toCNN. The rhino, believed to be around 25 years old, moved to the sanctuary in 2014.
“You were also the sweetest soul, who brought so much joy and hope to all of us. We are in so much pain right now, but we are thankful that you are no longer in pain,” theBorneo Rhino Alliance, which operates the sanctuary where Iman lived,posted to Facebookon Saturday along with a black-and-white photo of the animal.
“May we be as strong as you in our urgent fight to save your species. May we be as courageous as you to never give up,” the alliance added in the post, drawing attention to the fact that five Sumatran rhinos have died in the past 5 years.
Conservationists hoped they could breed Iman and the last male Sumatran rhino in Malaysia, Tam, and prevent the species from going extinct in Malaysia. Unfortunately, Iman had a tumor that prevented conception and Tam did not have high quality sperm, according to theInternational Rhino Foundation. Tamdied in May of this yeardue to organ failure.
Genetic material was taken from both Iman and Tam in hopes that one day there will be the technology to “convert these cells into viable embryos that could be transplanted into surrogate rhinos.”
“There is limited knowledge about Sumatran rhino reproductive physiology and converting cells in a laboratory into viable embryos is complex,” Susie Ellis, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation,said in a statement. “Still, there is hope for the survival of Sumatran rhinos.”
source: people.com
