Published on: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 |
The single biggest pledge came from the State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister when Datuk Masidi Manjun announced it would give RM100,000!
Another RM100,000 came from two US Non-government-Organisations namely Shared Earth Foundation represented by its President and CEO Caroline D Gabel who pledged RM50,000. The other being SOS Rhino US which also pledged RM50,000 through a distance phone call from its CEO Dr Nan Schaffer from Bali.
Singaporean Datuk Edward Ong of Sutera Harbour Resort Sdn Bhd made his presence felt for the tourism sector with a RM50,000 pledge.
Eight Wildlife Department Bird's Nest Concessionaires from Sabah's East Coast represented by Awang Hohd Sah B Arsad sprang a surprise with a combined pledge for RM50,000.
Another RM50,000 came from oil palm plantation group Wilmar International Limited represnted by its Group Head-CSR, Jeremy Goon.
The group which owns a large plantation that borders the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, has been helping out on anti-poaching activities since 2002 with some 20 honorary wildlife wardens of their own.
Two annonymous donors pledged RM30,000 and RM20,000, respectively.
Another two companies pledged RM25,000 each, namely Sabah Energy Corporation represented by Margaret Fung and Pulau Sipadan and Langkayan Resort owned by Ken Chung.
Five companies which pledged RM10,000 each were Kam Cheong Plantations represented by Cheong Sung Yan; Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad represented by Tan Sri Richard Lind; Kekal Mewah Sdn Bhd represented by Keyna Fung, Shangri-la's Rasa Ria Resort represented by Timothy Wright and Seaventures Tours & Tavels Sdn Bhd (Razak Harris).
The Borneo Conservation Trust pledged RM5,000 through Dr Toshinori Tsubochi. Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd also pledged RM5,000 through Chendramata Hj Sinteh.
Interestingly, there were two individual donors who pledged RM5,000 each.
These were Ms Keyna Fung and Simon Enderby who is Oerations Director of Scubazoo.
"We are very happy with the outcome," said Dr John Payne, Chairman of the Board of Bornean Rhino Alliance (BORA) which also include three other Board members, namely Cynthia Ong, Dr Isabelle Lackman Anrrenaz and Laurentius Ambu, Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Bora has big plans a year down the road to build a fenced 5,000-hectre natural forest sanctuary inside Tabin Wildlife Reserve into which individual rhinos rounded up from isolated forest pockets will be translocated to encourage meeting and mating among fertile males and females with the hope that they will eventually multiply by the hundreds.
But money to sustain its 14 Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) staff has practically run out and the RM500,000 is essentially an "emergency fund" badly needed to pay RPU's patrolling and data collection work over the next few months, Dr Payne said.
Given only about 35 heads left in Sabah, including no more than half a dozen breeding females, Japan's Dr Toshinori Tsubouchi said the situation is "not good", echoing Dr Payne's "bleak" prognosis.
"But on the other hand, the fact that they are still breeding is a good sign," said Dr Tsubouchi who said concentrating the remaining remnants in a natural sanctuary raises hope for their recovery.
