KOTA KINABALU: The iconic banteng (wild cattle), Sabah's most threatened large mammal, has been globally declared as critically endangered.
It was previously listed a tier lower, as endangered, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was revealed that this was caused by non-stop poaching and habitat loss.
With an estimated global population decline of more than 80 per cent of the species (Bos javanicus), native to Southeast Asia, the past two decades have prompted a negative status shift in the banteng.
The current total global population of banteng is estimated at 3,300. The scale of decline varies between populations, but overall, an expert assessment suggested that the global banteng population had decreased by 81 per cent over the past 21 years.
Declines were primarily driven by illegal hunting for meat and trade in horns, by-catch in traps set for other species, and extensive habitat loss and degradation across much of its range.
In Sabah, where it is estimated there are 500 of the Bornean banteng, a subspecies (Bos javanicus lowi), survives in four isolated sub-populations known as the north (Paitan-Sugut), east (Kulamba-Tabin), central (Central Forest) and west (Sipitang).
Sabah Wildlife Department director Roland Niun said to reverse the negative trend of the Sabah banteng population, the state came up with the Bornean Banteng Action Plan for Sabah 2019-2028, and last June carried out its mid-term review.
"The main actions were to increase enforcement at the state level, establish and maintain connectivity, develop and maintain pastures within and near the home ranges of existing herds and finally set up a Bornean banteng captive breeding programme in Sabah," he said.
Efforts are underway by a non-governmental organisation called BORA (Bring Back Our Rare Animals) at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve while the Sabah Wildlife and Forestry departments have been actively stepping up enforcement in the state.
The Forestry Department has also established PROTECT, a Special Enforcement Team, with the support of WWF-Malaysia and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) with funding from the Sime Darby Foundation. Another initiative taken is a move to boost enforcement and forensic capacity to deter wildlife crimes.
State Wildlife Department deputy director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said an intelligence unit and forensic laboratory, with funding provided by the US Department of State through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, was now up and running.
"More recently, the department, with the support of DGFC and funding from Sime Darby Foundation, set up Rapid Response Teams to improve effectiveness in reducing wildlife crimes, especially poaching, in the state," Soffian said.
"The emphasis is on tackling online-related modus operandi and in protecting key areas such as the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The responses are primarily dictated by the crime analytical products developed by the SWD's Intelligence Unit and by other monitoring systems.
"So far, the results obtained by SWD's Intelligence Unit and the Rapid Response Teams have been successful, leading to arrests and prosecutions including cases on some totally protected species like the Bornean banteng," he said.
He added that Malaysia was serious in protecting its natural resources via greater collaborations among enforcement agencies under the Khazanah Integrated Operations.
"Additional efforts have been made by the federal government to put more boots on the ground via the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme, whereby more community rangers will be hired and appointed as honorary wildlife wardens."