PROGRAM GOAL: To implement a wildlife monitoring program in the 41,000 ha Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent forest patches in eastern Sabah in order to determine species-habitat associations and inform future conservation management

Zoos Victoria works with Hutan to support the Kinabatangan Conservation Program in Sabah, northern Borneo. Hutan has developed an integrated approach which combines scientific research and habitat protection with capacity building, awareness campaigns, sustainable livelihood projects, and community outreach and development programs.

The program uses the Bornean Orang-utan, Pongo pygmaeus, as a flagship for a wide range of integrated biodiversity conservation projects along the Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah. Although the program focuses on the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (an area of approximately 41,000 hectares) the greater program operates across a much larger area (approximately 200,000 hectares), including the Ulu Segama Malua ecosystem.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Enhance conservation of orang-utans through research and management
  
• Increase knowledge and conservation of Sabah’s biodiversity through training, research and partnerships
  
• Reduce human-wildlife conflict
  
• Enhance community engagement through training, employment, sustainable livelihoods and ecotourism 

There are fewer than 2000 Bornean Elephants left in the wild 

ZOOS VICTORIA'S ROLE 

There are three main components to Zoos Victoria's support of this program:

1. Scientific knowledge of orang-utans.   Zoos Victoria's funding enables regular monitoring of Bornean Orang-utans (every 6 weeks) along permanent line transects in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary to learn more about this species' ecology and conservation status.
   
2. Community engagement in conservation of orang-utans and their habitat.  Zoos Victoria funds model community initiatives that lead to socio-economic and conservation gains. These include community nurseries for native tree species eaten by orang-utans (including wages for local management), and reforestation plots along the river.
   
3. Human resource capacity and commitment to manage and conserve orang-utans in Sabah.  Zoos Victoria is funding the development and fit-out of a functional training centre for capacity building and awareness events.

We are also increasing community awareness of environmental issues by funding the design and production of brochures for local communities. 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

More than 40 local staff are now employed in the program and significant conservation outcomes have been achieved:

• The most detailed study of wild orang-utans to date, enabling assessment of their capacity to live in selectively logged forest
  
• Forest management protocols established for commercial timber production throughout Sabah
  
• Community-based wildlife conflict mitigation squads established and reducing conflict
  
• Comprehensive field research commenced to understand the behaviour of the Bornean Elephant, Elephas maximus borneensis
  
• Sustainable alternative livelihood projects established around propagation and sale of native tree seedlings, and sustainable fish farming
  
• Field research station established, providing opportunities for conservation and research by local and international researchers and volunteers
  
• Successful ecotourism program in place, generating support for local communities

PROJECT PARTNER 

Zoos Victoria's in-country partner is Hutan, a non-government organisation that was created in 1996 to support conservation of the Bornean Orang-utan in Sabah. Hutan has strong relationships with the Sabah Wildlife Department, enabling Hutan to improve conservation outcomes across much of Sabah.

The Kinabatangan River, Sabah