By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: A two-week on-ground wildlife expedition has begun in Tabin Wildlife Reserve to strengthen protection efforts for the critically endangered Bornean banteng and improve understanding of wildlife in the area.
Led by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia, and supported by the Sabah Forestry Department, HUTAN, UK Appeal, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Danau Girang Field Centre, and Tabin Wildlife Resort, the expedition aims to fill critical knowledge gaps on banteng populations in the central parts of the reserve, where data remain scarce.
Findings from the survey will support conservation planning and on-ground wildlife management, contributing directly to the Bornean Banteng Action Plan 2019–2028 and the Management Plans for Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Silabukan Forest Reserve 2020–2030.
The expedition team, comprising 58 personnel from SWD, WWF, HUTAN, UK Appeal and BSBCC, completed intensive preparatory training last week in Lahad Datu before mobilising into the forest. Participants assigned to fieldwork were trained in survey methodologies, first aid and operational protocols essential for the demanding 14-day deployment.
This was followed by final checks, packing and distribution of field equipment to ensure each team entered the forest fully prepared for remote and challenging conditions.
Core activities include deploying camera traps and conducting general wildlife surveys across Tabin Wildlife Reserve, with particular focus on improving understanding of banteng distribution and presence.
Additional components, including threat assessments, orangutan surveys and bird mist-netting, will further strengthen the scientific evidence needed to address knowledge gaps and guide long-term conservation planning and sustainable wildlife management in Tabin.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, spanning approximately 122,500 hectares, falls under the jurisdiction of the Sabah Forestry Department, whose regulatory oversight underpins conservation work in the area.
Gazetted in 1984 primarily to protect large mammals at a time when surrounding lands were being rapidly converted for plantation development, Tabin has long served as one of eastern Sabah’s most important terrestrial conservation landscapes.
Public perception often associates the reserve with tourism because of Tabin Wildlife Resort, but this does not reflect its primary purpose.
“Tabin was established to safeguard wildlife, especially large mammals. That is why SWD maintains a presence in Tabin as the state-mandated authority responsible for managing and conserving wildlife in Sabah,” said SWD director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar.
Today, Tabin continues to play a critical role in wildlife conservation and research, providing essential refuge for Sabah’s remaining large mammal populations.
The need for updated scientific data has become increasingly urgent.
“We have not conducted an expedition in Tabin Wildlife Reserve for a very long time. The last expedition was carried out in 2009,” he said.
The absence of a comprehensive survey for more than a decade poses challenges for effective wildlife management, particularly in understanding current population trends.
“While there are several areas where we have identified the presence of banteng, significant parts of the reserve have yet to be surveyed, leaving gaps in data on banteng distribution and habitat use,” he added
Beyond addressing data gaps, the expedition also aims to strengthen human capital within conservation teams by providing new rangers with field exposure and facilitating knowledge transfer from experienced personnel.
The initiative also creates opportunities for cross-agency learning, enabling teams from different organisations to share skills, approaches and field experience. Through hands-on fieldwork, new rangers gain practical skills that support long-term conservation capacity.
“This expedition is a vital initiative to strengthen our understanding of Sabah’s wildlife,” said Dr Robecca Jumin, Head of Conservation, WWF-Malaysia (Sabah).
“Through rigorous field surveys, camera trapping and systematic monitoring, we aim to generate reliable data on banteng populations and broader biodiversity across the Tabin landscape. This evidence will directly guide conservation planning, strengthen management strategies and support the long-term protection of these species and their forest habitats.”
This multi-agency expedition marks an important step in advancing evidence-based wildlife conservation across the Tabin landscape.
All set for the 14-day expedition in Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
