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A better understanding of semen characteristics and resilience to freezing temperatures is necessary before developing assisted reproductive techniques and systematic biobanking for the Sunda clouded leopard. The objective of this study was to evaluate for the first time the semen and sperm quality (in fresh and frozen samples) of two captive Sunda clouded leopards in Malaysia. A total of 17 examinations of the reproductive tract (using ultrasonography) and electro-ejaculations were performed on the two leopards over a 2-year period. Samples obtained from Leopard 1 (8 years old) varied in terms of volume (402 ± 92 µL), pH (7.9 ± 0.9), sperm motility (54.5 ± 24.2%), sperm concentration (122.4 ± 84.7 × 106 sperm/mL), normal morphology (23.9 ± 12.3%), and viability (55.2 ± 18.2%). Midpiece defects represented the most common structural abnormality followed by abnormal tail and head defects. Samples from Leopard 2 (11 year old with abnormal testicular tissue) were of lesser quality. Two frozen semen samples from Leopard 1 were thawed and examined for acrosome integrity. Post-thawed samples contained <10% of motile spermatozoa but almost 50% of abnormal acrosomes. The present results emphasized the high incidence of structurally-abnormal spermatozoa, similar to the mainland clouded leopard. Post-thaw evaluations showed that the few surviving spermatozoa could potentially be used for in vitro fertilization or sperm injection. However, more individuals must be studied to validate those first findings that are exciting but still preliminary.

The Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis is on the brink of extinction. Although habitat loss and poaching were the reasons of the decline, today's reproductive isolation is the main threat to the survival of the species. Genetic studies have played an important role in identifying conservation priorities, including for rhinoceroses. However, for a species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, where time is of the essence in preventing extinction, to what extent should genetic and geographical distances be taken into account in deciding the most urgently needed conservation interventions? We propose that the populations of Sumatra and Borneo be considered as a single management unit.

An assessment of conservation units for the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) was conducted using a population aggregation analysis (PAA) of mitochondrial DNA site substitutions. Populations were defined as the three geographically separated regions of West Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. The intent of this assessment was to explore management options for this highly endangered lineage rather than conduct a traditional taxonomic revision.Individual DNA positions were not diagnostic for any population. A single haplotype provided a character as support for diagnosing the West Malaysian and Bornean population. The haplotypes on West Malaysia and Sumatra were more similar to each other than either was to the one on Borneo. These data, and a review of the morphological characters, support the option of treating Sumatran rhinos as a single conservation unit, providing managers with greater flexibility in managing the unique Dicerorhine lineage. 0 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.