Health of ailing rhino remains unchanged

KOTA KINABALU: The health of Iman, Malaysia's only female rhinoceros in captivity, remains unchanged since it started bleeding from a uterine tumour that is believed to have ruptured on Dec 14.
Sabah Wildlife Director Augustine Tuuga said Iman was given 15 litres of fluid yesterday and 10 more litres today as well as supplements, while antibiotics, painkillers, Vitamin K and gastric protectant were given intravenously.
"Iman defecated twice today and urinated, (but) she only consumed three stalks of leaves and drank a bit.
"She refused fruits such as banana, papaya and mango and drank small volumes of water," he said in a statement here today.
Tuuga said the rhino still experienced bleeding in her uterus and dark, partially clotted blood was observed to have flowed out of her.
Even so, he said, she was still actively moving in her night stall.
Veterinarians caring for her at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu would start giving her a medication known as Diazepam to stimulate her appetite, he said.
Iman was detected to be suffering from uterine leiomyoma tumours when she began bleeding.
Iman is the only female rhino in captivity in the country after the death of Puntung about six months ago due to cancer. — Bernama