KOTA KINABALU: The health of Malaysia’s last surviving male Sumatran rhinoceros is deteriorating, said Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew on Sunday (May 19).

“Tam’s appetite and level of activity have dropped suddenly since the end of April, and he is now given medicine daily because some of his internal organs are not functioning well,” she added.

If Tam dies, it would leave Iman as the last surviving female Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia, after another female rhinoceros Puntung was euthanised in June 2017.

“Hopes to find a mate for him were dashed when Puntung was found to have multiple cysts throughout her uterus,” Ms Liew was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

“Iman, on the other hand, was found to have massive uterine fibroids,” she added.

Puntung was captured in 2011, while Iman was…