Sabah wildlife department director Augustine Tuuga told reporters today that repeated dosage of various medication and supplements has not helped to make Iman better. She started bleeding last week when her uterine leiomyoma tumours ruptured.
Iman is now the only female Sumatran rhino in the country, after another female Sumatran rhino had to be euthanised in June having failed to respond to treatment for skin cancer.
“There’s still been no change from yesterday despite being given 15 litres of fluids and supplements.
“Antibiotic, pain killer, vitamin K and gastric protectant were given intravenously,” Tuuga said.
He added that her appetite was poor as well.
“Iman only consumed three stalk of leaves and drank a bit. She refused fruits – banana, papaya, mango, and drank small volumes of water.
“We will start on a very low dose of diazepam later, to stimulate her appetite.”
Augustine said Iman still bled from the uterus and partially-clotted blood was observed oozing out of her vagina.
“Iman defecated twice today and urinated and she is still actively moving in her night stall.
“We have started her on 10 litres of fluids again today with supplements, antibiotic, gastric protectant, vitamin K and pain killer,” he said of her latest status.
Iman is being kept at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu.
Puntung, which attracted global attention for enduring dental surgery by a multinational team at the reserve, was dying of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Puntung was put to sleep at the reserve in June.