KOTA KINABALU: The number of Bornean bantengs (wild cattle) is worryingly dwindling to low densities in Sabah according to findings published in a journal.
This asserts the need to look into captive breeding programme of the species as well poaching and forest fragmentation caused by human activities.
The new publication in the "Global Ecology and Conservation", an open access journal last month uses individual recognition of animals from their natural marks such as scars.
With such marks, researchers from Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Cardiff University have been able to build up a series of photographic captures over an extended period of time.
DGFC post-doctoral fellow Dr Penny Gardner said the photographic recapture history was used to estimate robust population density of this endangered wild cattle species in two forests; the Tabin Wildlife Reserve and the Malua Forest Reserve.
“This is the first time that researchers have had sufficient quantities of data on this highly elusive species that have facilitated statistical analyses to estimate robust population density," said Gardner who was one of four contributors to the journal.
"The density of bantengs in Malua and Tabin are both exceptionally low; 0.5 per 100km2 in Malua, and 1 per 100km2 in Tabin.
“Herds are increasingly fragmented by deforestation, infrastructure and human activity, and this prevents their ability to move and maintain behaviours essential to their survival,” Gardner added.
Tabin measures about 122,000 ha and Malua about 39,000 ha.
Another contributor to the journal, DGFC director and Cardiff University professor Dr Benoit Goossens said another widespread threat is poaching.
“Poaching is also widespread in all habitat containing bantengs, and the loss of any individual will quicken the time until they go extinct in the wild. There is now an urgency to control poaching to prevent the loss of this species,” he said.
The wild cattle of Borneo are targeted for bushmeat consumption, and several bantengs are shot every year in protected forests.
"They are often bycatch in snares, which result in potentially catastrophic injuries such as the loss of a limb. During our study, several images documented incidents of injuries sustained by Bornean bantengs resulting from snares,” he claimed.
“To respond to poaching, DGFC recently assisted the Sabah Forestry Department in securing a grant from the Sime Darby Foundation to increase the capacity of SFD’s anti-poaching Protect Unit.
"It should provide a fantastic boost to wildlife conservation and hopefully deter poachers in the State,” Goossens said.
State Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga said a captive breeding programme for the bantengs is crucial, with less than 500 estimated in the wild.
"With the help of DGFC, the department will also set up an Endangered Species Conservation Unit that will monitor the implementation of all action plans on Schedule 1 terrestrial species.
“DGFC was instrumental in providing critical scientific information on this totally protected species (Schedule 1) and the department is committed to implement the action plan together with all stakeholders.
"We need support in our mission to protect and conserve our wildlife in Sabah. This year, the Bornean Banteng Action Plan for Sabah, together with two other plans (for proboscis monkey and Sunda clouded leopard), were officially endorsed by the State Cabinet,” he said.