The National Geographic Channel (NGC) has launched the Uncover Malaysia TV series, a compilation of 11 on-air documentaries on Malaysia, with focus on the Operation Sumatran Rhino campaign.

The number of critically endangered Sumatran Rhino in Malaysia is now just three. Conservationists are on a desperate mission to save the country’s remaining rhinos. The documentary showcases the efforts led by the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA), with objectives to drive public awareness for the rhino’s plight. These efforts in Malaysia are led by Datuk Dr. John Payne, Executive Director of BORA, and Dr. Zainal Zainuddin, Field Manager and Veterinarian of BORA.

Datuk Dr. John Payne said: “The biggest threat the Sumatran Rhino faces is poaching. This has caused their number to dwindle to only three in Malaysia. BORA has been fighting an uphill battle trying to save Malaysia’s last Sumatran Rhinos.

“The only way to achieve this is to capture all the remaining specimens in the wild – a dangerous and costly operation – and to breed them.

“This quest remains until today and Operation Sumatran Rhino chronicles our quest to save these gentle giants from extinction. We hope this documentary will shine a spotlight on the need for support as we tackle the Sumatran Rhino’s plight.”

Operation Sumatran Rhino is part of the larger Uncover Malaysia campaign that takes a look at different aspects of Malaysia, featuring stories of culture, culinary arts and conservation.

National Geographic has also launched a series of exhibitions that invites the public to Uncover Malaysia for themselves at Sunway Pyramid.

These exhibits consist of 12 doors that use interactive storytelling to give the public a glimpse of what each story has to offer. 

“Leveraging on National Geographic’s global viewership and network, we took the opportunity to highlight these uniquely Malaysian stories to the world. Perhaps the most crucial of them all – current efforts to save the critically endangered Sumatran Rhinos.

“We’ve taken Operation Sumatran Rhino globally via National Geographic Wild’s Mission Critical, then on National Geographic Channel in Asia” added May Yi Lee, Vice President of NGC Regional Productions for Asia Pacific & Middle East.

The Uncover Malaysia exhibition is open to the public until 22 September 2016 at the Main Concourse of Sunway Pyramid.

The Operation Sumatran Rhino documentary will be broadcast on 19 September 2016 on National Geographic Wild, Astro Channel 550 at 8.40pm. It will be shown again in conjunction with World Rhino Day on 22 September 2016, on National Geographic Wild, National Geographic Channel, Astro Channel 553 and HD channel 573, at 7pm.