KINABATANGAN: The Sabah Wildlife Department is working closely with the state Fire and Rescue Department to identify the cause of a recent fire that destroyed about 200 hectares of forest reserve.
The affected areas involved 77 hectares of the Class 1 Trusan Kinabatangan Forest Reserve and 120 hectares of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary’s Lot 2.
The fire was reported to have occurred last week. Forestry personnel discovered skeletal remains of a slaughtered deer, as well as bullet shells among the ashes during an inspection.
The findings have given rise to theories that poachers might have started the blaze.
State Wildlife director William Baya said the department would leave it to the fire and rescue team to analyse the cause of the fire, adding they will provide the necessary cooperation.
“There is every possibility that the fire could have been caused by poaching activities. However, I am leaving this to the experts.
“What I can confirm is the fire started from the forest reserve and spread rapidly to the sanctuary,” he said, adding that a team from the wildlife department was deployed to assist in putting out the blaze.