INBREEDING DEPRESSION OF CAPTIVE MALAYAN GAUR (Bos gaurus hubbacki) AT JENDERAK SELATAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTRE, PAHANG

The Malayan gaur or locally known as Seladang (Bos gaurus hubbacki) is the second largest terrestrial mammal in Malaysia. In Peninsular Malaysia, wild gaur can be found in considerable numbers in states of Perak, Pahang and Terengganu (Muhamad Rizal, pers. comm.). According to Conry (1981), the home range of Malayan gaur differ with sex and age. Conry (1981) calculated the home range of a herd in Lepar River Valley (central Pahang) and he found that adult male have an estimated home range of 7,018 ha, adult female with 5,213 ha, and yearling male had a home range of 2,989 ha. Gaur food preference was affected by elevation from sea level (increase in elevation limit choice of food) and types of habitat (i.e. primary forest, secondary forest, agricultural area) within their home range (Ebil, 1982, 2009). Gaur preferred 17 species of shrubs and six species of grasses (Ebil, 2009). According to Ebil (2009) the most preferred shrubs based on habitat are Shorea acuminata (primary forest), Melastoma malabathricum (secondary forest), Erythrina variegata (agricultural area) and as for grasses species, the gaur favour Imperata cylindrica (primary forest), Paspalum conjugatum (secondary forest), and Paspalum vaginatum (agricultural area)

DNA forensic case study: species identification from suspected crocodile penis

Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) began developing the capacity on wildlife DNA forensic since 2009 to assist in law enforcement activities. Most of the forensic cases require DNA species identification of animal parts where key morphological characters are missing. Among the cases frequently confiscated are from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which often claim to use animal parts such as reproductive organs. Dried crocodile penises, in particular, are believed to have medicinal benefits and are highly demanded in TCM industries since millennials ago. In this case study, we analysed four enforcement cases comprising of 44 exhibits which resemble crocodile penis using the partial cytochrome b gene of the mitochondrial DNA. Sequence similarity searches were conducted using both the BLAST search engines of GenBank and also PERHILITAN’s MyWILDNA database to identify the species. Out of 44 exhibits, 22 items produced DNA sequences in which three were found to be derived from Crocodylus porosus while the remaining was identified as Bos taurus, Bos javanicus, and Bos indicus. This case study showed that most of TCM which claimed to be derived from crocodile penis turned out to be counterfeit products

Phylogeography of the Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica: Implications for taxonomy, conservation management and wildlife forensics

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is the most widely distributed Asian pangolin species, occurring across much of Southeast Asia and in southern China. It is classified as Critically Endangered and is one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, which not only negatively impacts wild Sunda pangolin populations but also poses a potential disease risk to other species, including humans and livestock. Here, we aimed to investigate the species' phylogeography across its distribution to improve our understanding of the species' evolutionary history, elucidate any taxonomic uncertainties and enhance the species' conservation genetic management and potential wildlife forensics applications. We sequenced mtDNA genomes from 23 wild Sunda pangolins of known provenance originating from Malaysia to fill sampling gaps in previous studies, particularly in Borneo. To conduct phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of Sunda pangolins across their range, we integrated these newly generated mitochondrial genomes with previously generated mtDNA and nuclear DNA data sets (RAD‐seq SNP data). We identified an evolutionarily distinct mtDNA lineage in north Borneo, estimated to be ~1.6 million years divergent from lineages in west/south Borneo and the mainland, comparable to the divergence time from the Palawan pangolin. There appeared to be mitonuclear discordance, with no apparent genetic structure across Borneo based on analysis of nuclear SNPs. These findings are consistent with the ‘out of Borneo hypothesis’, whereby Sunda pangolins diversified in Borneo before subsequently migrating throughout Sundaland, and/or a secondary contact scenario between mainland and Borneo. We have elucidated possible taxonomic issues in the Sunda/Palawan pangolin complex and highlight the critical need for additional georeferenced samples to accurately apportion its range‐wide genetic variation into appropriate taxonomic and conservation units. Additionally, these data have improved forensic identification testing involving these species and permit the implementation of geographic provenance testing in some scenarios

Behavioral and corticosterone responses to carbon dioxide exposure in reptiles.

The use of carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure as a means of animal euthanasia has received considerable attention in mammals and birds but remains virtually untested in reptiles. We measured the behavioral responses of four squamate reptile species (Homalopsis buccata, Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivitattus, and Varanus salvator) to exposure to 99.5% CO2 for durations of 15, 30, or 90 minutes. We also examined alterations in plasma corticosterone levels of M. reticulatus and V. salvator before and after 15 minutes of CO2 exposure relative to control individuals. The four reptile taxa showed consistent behavioral responses to CO2 exposure characterized by gaping and minor movements. The time taken to lose responsiveness to stimuli and cessation of movements varied between 240-4260 seconds (4-71 minutes), with considerable intra- and inter-specific variation. Duration of CO2 exposure influenced the likelihood of recovery, which also varied among species (e.g., from 0-100% recovery after 30-min exposure). Plasma corticosterone concentrations increased after CO2 exposure in both V. salvator (18%) and M. reticulatus (14%), but only significantly in the former species. Based on our results, CO2 appears to be a mild stressor for reptiles, but the relatively minor responses to CO2 suggest it may not cause considerable distress or pain. However, our results are preliminary, and further testing is required to understand optimal CO2 delivery mechanisms and interspecific responses to CO2 exposure before endorsing this method for reptile euthanasia

The complete mitochondrial genome of Malayan Gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki) from Peninsular Malaysia

Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of Malayan Gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki) inferred using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 16,367 bp in length with the structural organization of a typical bovine mitochondrial arrangement comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 21 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. No internal stop codon was found in the protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that Malayan gaur is more closely related to Burmese banteng instead of gaur

WILDLIFE EX-SITU CONSERVATION : FORENSICS, BIOBANKING, ZOONOTIC DISEASES AND CAPTIVE BREEDING

Wildlife ex-situ conservation is a complete process of securing populations outside natural habitats. Tools like captive breeding, population genetics, artificial insemination and many others are key elements in this conservation practice. This book compiles all the advancements in ex-situ conservation via the application of forensics, captive breeding, molecular genetics, disease control and husbandry management by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia. A very precise and comprehensive explanation of each component is presented in this book. Those components include An Overview of ExSitu Conservation; Wildlife Forensics for Combating Wildlife Crime; Wildlife Biobanking; Wildlife Disease Surveillance; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release; Wildlife Husbandry Management and Way Forward of PERHILITAN’s ultimate goal in ex-situ conservation. All the information generated in this book will be valuable guidance for wildlife conservationists, policymakers, stakeholders and scholars. The authors of this book comprise a team with extensive experience and a wide range of skills, which make them highly qualified to publish the first-ever book on Ex-Situ Conservation in Peninsular Malaysia