KOTA KINABALU: A special anti-poaching squad will start protecting the forests under the Sabah Forestry department next month.
A total of 25 specially-trained contract staff will start operations under the department's Enforcement, Tactical, Operational and Protection squad or Protect Unit.
Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini said the squad would focus on anti-poaching operations from Sept 1.
“They will boost the enforcement capacity of the state government in reducing the number of poaching cases in Sabah,” he said.
The formation of the team was made possible from a grant of RM4 million provided by the Sime Darby Foundation to the department.
From 900 locals who applied, 70 candidates were picked before 30 were shortlisted for the special training at the Sabah Forestry Institute in Telupid.
Mashor said a two-day selection course was held for the 70 candidates in Ranau.
“They were put through written, physical and mental aptitude test, followed by an interview,” Mashor said.
Training was carried out for 21 days from July 18 by Frontline Ltd, an organisation based in Labuan specialising in anti-poaching training.
Project partner Dr Benoit Goossens, director of Danau Girang Field Centre and professor at the University of Cardiff, United Kingdom, said the idea was to train the participants to confidently and safely conduct counter-poaching patrolling in a tropical forest environment and to conduct, under supervision, basic intelligence gathering, investigations, raids and takedowns in both the forest and urban environment by foot and using vehicles.
“An additional four rangers from Sabah Parks and one ranger from Sabah Wildlife Department were specially selected to enhance inter-agency cooperation,” he said.