Sabah finds 'extinct' otter civet

Joniston Bangkuai New Straits Times 9 Feb 11;

SANDAKAN: The Otter Civet, previously thought extinct, has been found in Sabah after a gap of more than 100 years.

The endangered Otter Civet Cynogalebennettii was photographed in the Deramakot Forest Reserve here with a remote camera trap set up by a biodiversity monitoring team of the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) and a German wildlife research institute.

The research collaboration between the SFD and the internationally-renowned Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) also led to the finding of a Sunda Clouded Leopard in the same area last year.


Encouraged by the success, SFD and IZW have agreed to expand the joint research and biodiversity monitoring effort to Forest Management Units (FMUs) throughout the state.

A memorandum of understanding was signed here yesterday by SFD director Datuk Sam Mannan and IZW director Prof Dr Heribert Hofer.

"We know that there are orang utan or elephants living in our forests but our knowledge about other highly threatened wildlife species such as the endangered Otter Civet was very limited," Mannan said.


He said considering more than half of Sabah was covered by forests, wildlife conservation beyond borders of parks or other fully protected areas was paramount for effective and comprehensive conservation of the state's rich biodiversity.

As most forests are commercially used for the production of timber, a sustainable management is of great importance to ensure the long-term conservation of some of the most threatened species.

Mannan is optimistic the collaboration with IZW will boost SFD's aim of getting all FMUs in the state certified as Sustainable Forest Management by 2014.


Prof Hofer said Sabah's rich biodiversity is a great treasure and a heritage of worldwide importance.

"Therefore, up-to-date scientific research and wildlife surveys are important to understand the needs of threatened species."

He observed that little was known about the ecology of wildlife species in Sabah's forests and how they responded to timber extraction.

"Such research is of a high practical value because the appropriate management and protection of wildlife species requires knowledge."

In November last year, the IZW signed an MoU with the Sabah Wildlife Department to collaborate on research and conservation of the state's wildlife, particularly the highly endangered Sabah Rhinoceros.

Germany institute and forestry dept join forces to explore Sabah forests
Ruben Sario The Star 9 Feb 11;

KOTA KINABALU: A joint research effort is under way to determine how activities such as logging impact wildlife in the state’s forests.

The study, focusing on sustainably-managed forests or forest management units (FMUs), is being jointly undertaken by the Sabah Forestry Department and the renowned Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) of Germany.

Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said the research was crucial in the sustainable management of the forests that were habitats to diverse wildlife, some of which are endangered.

“We know that there are orang utan or elephants living in our forests, but our knowledge about other highly-threatened wildlife species such as the endangered otter civet is very limited.

“With their research, the IZW showed us that these species are in our forests and how to find them,” he said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the continued joint research effort in Sandakan.

He said earlier IZW studies in the state’s forests had resulted in the Sunda clouded leopard to be captured on film for the first time last year and the rediscovery of the hairy-nosed otter, previously thought extinct, in Sabah.

IZW director Heribert Hofer said the biological richness of Sabah’s forests was a great treasure and a heritage of worldwide importance.

“It is therefore an important responsibility to manage these forests in a sustainable way.

“Therefore, up-to-date scientific research and wildlife surveys are important to understand the needs of threatened species.

“Knowing and appreciating the diversity of these forests will help protect their richness for the benefit of all,” he added.