In order to develop successful conservation measures for Sabah’s wild Bornean Orangutan species, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the size and distribution of populations in Sabah. Multiple surveys have been carried out in the state by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and its collaborators over time to produce accurate estimates of Orangutan population sizes across the state. Evaluating the viability of Orangutan populations in Sabah and determining the effectiveness of conservation efforts made by the SWD and other stakeholders require continuous monitoring of population size and dynamics.
This monitoring is vital for assessing the efficiency of conservation activities. Today, about 80% of Sabah’s current wild Bornean Orangutan populations are found within the extensive network of protected forests across the state. However, recent information also shows that the species is increasingly found outside protected areas and forested regions, primarily in oil-palm-dominated landscapes. The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation has taken the initiative to collaborate with the Sabah Wildlife Department and HUTAN (an NGO) to conduct this population survey project.
The main goal of this two-year project is to provide new and updated information on Orangutan distribution and abundance in Sabah, with a focus on smaller populations living in fragmented forests and agricultural landscapes. This new survey data is needed for comparison with baseline information collected about 20 years ago. Updated population data on Orangutans will be used for Sabah’s Bornean Orangutan Action Plan and to develop targeted outreach campaigns and landscape management strategies adapted to the current situation. This project is also designed to serve as a training platform for the field personnel of the Sabah Wildlife Department and related stakeholders on Orangutan survey and monitoring techniques.
In addition to ground line-transect surveys to estimate population distribution and size, the project will also involve helicopter and drone surveys to cover areas with difficult accessibility and challenging landscapes.
