KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department has carried out an investigation into the shocking killing last week of three endangered Bornean Banteng.
Its director Augustine Tuuga said the investigation team went to the ground to collect evidence on the case.
On Thursday, the Sabah Forestry Department disclosed that a plantation manager may be the culprit behind the poaching of one of the animals in October.
The manager was identified in a seized photograph in which he is seen posing with a Banteng carcass.
The three killings occurred in the Maliau basin, Sipitang and the Tabin conservation and forest reserve areas.
“The Maliau basin is a restricted area and not anyone can go there.
“It could (also) be that some villagers had gone into the forest… but there is no evidence of poaching or meat when we conducted checks at their houses,” he said when contacted.
So far this year, four Banteng have been killed. It is estimated that around 12 Banteng are slaughtered every year.
To date, no Banteng poacher has been prosecuted due to lack of evidence, Augustine said.
The Banteng is a “totally protected species” and there are fewer than 400 left in Sabah.