Wildlife Research in Sabah

Although there is still plenty to discover and investigate, already much research on wildlife resources has taken place in Sabah.

Both local and international researchers cooperate with the Wildlife Department which is responsible for guiding wildlife research and issuing research permits.

The department has close cooperation with many different stakeholders in research. One of the most important partners is University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS), with which the department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on wildlife research.

Some of the wildlife research issues which the Sabah Wildlife Department gives high priority are:

• Resource inventories and monitoring, which include research on distribution and population dynamics of plants, and animals.  Some of the animal species given priority are species such as Asian Two Horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Tembadau, Orang-utan, Proboscis Monkey, Eustarine Crocodile, False-Gharial, Clouded Leopard, Sun Bear, all sea turtles and Dugongs.

• Functional aspects, which include research on ecosystem dynamics and relationships, e.g. impact on wildlife of landscape fragmentation, ecological carrying capacity of tourists in protected areas, ecological corridors.

• Management oriented research, which include research and development of standards, techniques and technologies that will improve planning and management of natural resources by the department, e.g. buffer zones, participatory management, ecological impact assessment.

For research procedures and permits, see under Services.