In 2017, a female Sumatran rhino named Puntung was put down due to cancer. Last month, the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry revealed that the Sumatran rhinoceros can no longer be found in the wild.
And now, we are in serious danger of losing the last surviving male Sumatran rhino in Malaysia.
Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) director Augustine Tuuga told The Star Online that Tam's health is deteriorating rapidly.
His appetite and alertness, said Tuuga, has reportedly declined abruptly since the end of last month.
Tests are still ongoing, but Tuuga revealed that "one or more of his internal organs are not functioning well."
“Serious concerns are growing over (Tam’s) health now. It is receiving round-the-clock attention and medication,” he said in a statement quoted by the news portal.
Tam was captured at the Kretam oil palm plantation in Tawau back in 2008, and he was later transferred to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve where he has lived ever since.
Over the years, conservationists were trying to get Tam to mate with Puntung and another female rhino named Iman, but it hasn't proved successful.
Get well soon, Tam.