LIKE star-struck kids, men and women of all ages, shapes and sizes tumbled excitedly out of their pickup trucks and rushed over to the enclosure where they were promised the sight of a lifetime.

They were not disappointed.

The gentle giant tilted its head up to the many outstretched hands for a nuzzling. Its soulful eyes implored visitors to carry on with the caressing.

Charmed and completely taken in by the adorable fellow, no one saw what was coming

Kertam the celebrity rhinoceros suddenly spun around, took aim and spurted a jet of yellow pungent fluid at the stunned visitors.

Some yelled, while others jumped out of the way. Those spared the acidic shower let out hearty guffaws.

Kertam, eyes twinkling, had indeed left an indelible mark on the 30 or so visitors -- a delegation comprising Sabah Wildlife Department officers, rangers, and Sime Darby's board of directors. They visited the Tabin Wildlife Reserve last month.

Much of the banter that followed revolved around how the 623kg Sumatran rhinoceros chose to relieve itself seconds after Tun Musa Hitam, who chairs the board, moved away from the pen.

Some mischievously concluded that Kertam, with its strong sense of smell, had managed to sniff the paymaster out.

In an effort to protect the critically endangered species from extinction, the Sime Darby Foundation has pumped in RM7.3 million to safeguard the Sumatran rhinoceros.

A 4,500-ha sanctuary, costing RM5 million, will be set up in the reserve, while the remaining RM2.3 million will be used to beef up the reserve's infrastructure, facilities and housing for employees.

This aid couldn't have come at a more critical time, says Dr Junaidi Payne, technical adviser to the World Wildlife Fund Sabah.

"If we rely on what we have, we will be able to maintain this rhino project for a year, but it will be a struggle after that.

"Sime Darby's aid is thus very helpful. Orang utans are extremely popular with fundraisers in Europe but rhinos are not."

It is estimated that only 50 Sumatran rhinoceros exist in the wild. A subspecies of the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros can be found in Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo.

Sabah still has at least 30 of the species, whose numbers have declined significantly due to deforestation and poaching.

There are currently two small breeding populations in the state -- the Danum Valley Conservation area with 13 rhinos and Tabin Wildlife Reserve with 15.

This distribution pattern mirrors the strong correlation between fertile soils and density of large mammals, says Payne.

Even though Tabin is a wildlife habitat big enough for reproduction to take place, there has been no clear indication of an increase in the rhino population.

"One can normally expect a three to five per cent a year for large animals. Based on that, the number of rhinos should have gone up in the last 25 to 30 years.

But the converse appears to be true based on the number of fresh footprints found.

"We don't know whether the numbers have fallen for real or whether they have stagnated."

Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, who officiated the signing ceremony of a collaboration agreement between the state government and the Sime Darby Foundation in Tabin, says research has shown that there has been no newborn calf in the last few years.

A study has also identified several emerging diseases that could affect the reproductive system of female rhinos, he says.

"It seems that rhinos do not have much opportunity to meet up. They are loners and search for a partner only during mating season. If they live in fragmented forests, it is difficult for them to meet, mate and procreate."

For this reason, the state government has stepped up on forest conservation. Currently, over half of Sabah is under forest cover, out of which 16 per cent is virgin jungle.

Musa praised the state government for its rehabilitative work. He says: "Cutting forests cannot earn us as much as preserving the environment for the future."

It is estimated that there are individual rhinos surviving in scattered locations in eastern and central Sabah, but their long-term chances for survival are bleak due to their small numbers and limited forest habitat.

The idea for the Bornean Rhino Sanctuary came up in a workshop two years ago. Participants thought it would be a good idea to put the "doomed rhinos" together with those in Tabin or Danum to boost the numbers and also for fertile males and females to mate.

The Sabah Development Corridor has allocated RM8 million (S$3,275,200) for the perimeter road and the sanctuary's electric fencing.

The three-year project, expected to be completed in 2012, will be the new home for Kertam and fellow rhinoceroses, as well as other animals.

"We cannot guarantee baby rhinos, but at least the rhinoceroses will be rescued and placed in a safe habitat," says Dr Sen Nathan, chief field veterinarian of the wildlife department. -NST