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Sabah is home to one of the rarest mammals on earth, the Critically Endangered Sumatran rhino, with a world population of probably less than 200 animals. Of the sub-species found on Borneo, (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni), only about 35 are thought to survive, clinging on in pockets of forest in eastern and central Sabah. The two main populations, numbering perhaps 13-15 rhinos each, are in Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, with a few other isolated individuals scattered elsewhere.
Recognizing the urgency of this situation, SOS Rhino (a US-based NGO) came to Sabah in 2000 and actively assisted Sabah Wildlife Department in rhino protection in Tabin, and in 2003, established SOS Rhino Borneo (SOSRB), a local NGO, to provide protection for Tabin’s rhinos through patrolling, monitoring and community outreach.
After several years of building a foundation for this work, SOS Rhino felt that Malaysia should step up to take responsibility for its rhinos, and a workshop with all relevant stakeholders was organized in 2007 to chart the future for the Sabah rhino, resulting in a resolution to create a Borneo Rhino Sanctuary, and a Rhino Action Plan.
Encouraged by this commitment, SOS Rhino announced in December 2007 that it would cease to provide further funding for SOSRB after June 2008. They then reached out to a group of concerned individuals within the conservation movement in Sabah and initiated a 6 month transition process to continue and expand on the work they had started and sustained over the years. In May 2008, SOSRB moved forward with a new Sabah-based board comprised of highly skilled, qualified and dedicated Sabah-based conservation leaders, including Cynthia Ong as a representative from LEAP, and, starting from January 2009, the name BORNEO RHINO ALLIANCE (BORA) was adopted to better reflect the collaborative nature of rhino conservation work in Sabah.
The 4 core activities identified for BORA are: |
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