KOTA KINABALU: The survival of pangolins in the wild of Sabah remains uncertain as the world commemorates the species tomorrow.
World Pangolin Day is observed every third Saturday of February annually. And in Sabah, much is desired in the effort towards conservation of this scaly animal.
Challenges such as demand for meat and scales, loss of forest habitat, and more research is needed on pangolin population estimates and distribution in Sabah.
This year, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pangolin Specialist Group is observing the day with the theme "Communities Leading Pangolin Conservation".
Local pangolin expert Elisa Panjang, who is also conservation officer of Danau Girang Field Centre, said Sabah still had a long way to go.
"Even though pangolins are elusive and nocturnal, these precious inhabitants of Sabah's forests are fast becoming a wildlife icon, together with orangutans, Bornean elephants, sun bears and clouded leopards," she said.
"There's an active international network of pangolin experts and conservationists in all range states including in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and I have been involved in podcasts and interviews and co-creating educational materials for social media to share about our exciting work here in Sabah.
"Efforts are ongoing here through outreach to schools and villages and plantations to increase awareness of the plight of pangolins and how to work together for a brighter future for these fascinating yet Critically Endangered animals," Elisa said.
"For example, together with Sabah Wildlife Department and Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), we have also organised workshops on pangolin rescue and veterinary care of pangolins in captivity before releasing them back to the wild," she noted.
"Husbandry and rehabilitation of rescued or confiscated pangolin is very challenging, especially if young or baby pangolin known as pangopup are found without their mothers, and we are working to increase the capacity of our vets and rangers in caring for pangolin so they have a better chance of survival when going back in their habitat," she said.
"We have produced a poster to raise awareness on how to handle pangolins that can be encountered in your garden, farm or in dangerous situations for the pangolin, so that the public have the knowledge on what to do, or who to contact, if the pangolin is found.
"We have distributed this poster to schools, villages, plantations and conservation areas. Pangolin are Totally Protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Enactment 1997 but unfortunately they are still being poached," Elisa said.
In Sabah, training has been carried out in partnership with the Malaysian judiciary, Sabah Wildlife Department, Danau Girang Field Centre and Justice For Wildlife Malaysia to increase the capacity of authorities and wildlife experts in successfully prosecuting wildlife crime cases including those involving pangolin.
"And work will start soon on formulating the Sunda Pangolin Action Plan for Sabah which will chart a course for the long term future of these amazing animals," she added.
LEAP biodiversity conservation and environmental awareness manager Sylvia Yorath said organisations like Sabah Wildlife Department, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Danau Girang Field Centre, WWF Malaysia and other conservation partners from Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN) had done amazing environmental education and awareness work.
"They are collaborating and supporting each other at events and in outreach activities, reaching many different audiences through their combined efforts."
Sabah is celebrating World Pangolin Day with an event at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park on March 11, with exhibitions and dialogues, and an upcycling workshop and children's games based on pangolin themes.