Sabah to consider wildlife-friendly roads for Phase 3 of Pan Borneo Highway
KOTA KINABALU: Suggestions from stakeholders to build "wildlife-friendly" roads will be considered for Phase 3 of the Pan Borneo Highway project, said Sabah Public Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
"For Phase 3 of the Pan Borneo Highway project, it has not officially commenced yet.
"Therefore, these suggestions can be considered, as the project is still in the planning stage," he said when contacted regarding a recently concluded workshop on infrastructure development.
The Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah is divided into three phases: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. The state is still completing the Phase 1 project.
The four-day workshop, held at Maliau Basin, was co-organised by the Sabah Wildlife Department, the Centre for Large Landscape Conservation, the IUCN WCPA/SSC Asian Elephant Transport Working Group and WWF-Malaysia.
Among the suggestions raised during the programme were that road construction should avoid sensitive areas such as high conservation value forests, water catchments, steep slopes, and key biodiversity zones.
Where avoidance is not possible, impact should be minimised by realigning routes or incorporating viaducts, culverts, and canopy bridges.
Affected areas should also be restored through habitat rehabilitation and ecological reconnection.
The workshop was attended by 46 participants from 15 government agencies, including the Public Works Ministry, non-governmental organisations and technical partners.
In a joint statement, Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said it is still possible to incorporate conservation measures, as Phase 3 of the Pan Borneo Highway is currently under planning.
"We must learn from past mistakes, such as in Phase 1B, where the highway alignment was finalised before biodiversity concerns were fully addressed.
"This resulted in a route that cuts through the Tawai Forest Reserve, a Class I Protection Forest," he said.
WWF-Malaysia Sabah Conservation head Dr Robecca Jumin said that while they support development, it should not come at the expense of the environment.
"Infrastructure that avoids environmentally sensitive areas is not only better for nature. It is also more climate-resilient and cost-effective in the long run.
"With early intervention, cost-benefit analysis, and proper planning, including budgeting for environmental safeguards and strong political will, we can build roads that serve communities without sacrificing Sabah's unique forests, elephants, orangutans, and other iconic wildlife.
"Too often, environmental experts are consulted too late to influence road alignments or the design of wildlife crossings," she added.
While limited data is available on roadkill incidents, vehicle collisions are a known threat to the endangered Bornean pygmy elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), which are endemic to Sabah.
These elephants also face multiple threats, including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, and poisoning.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Snare traps remain a threat to Sabah wildlife
Bath time: A WRU ranger caring for Taburi at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. KOTA KINABALU: It has been almost three years but Taburi the elephant is still bearing the scar from a leg wound she suffered after getting tangled in a wire snare. Taburi was a calf of just about 1.2m in height when she was discovered by estate workers who heard her cries at an oil palm estate in Lahad Datu. They found the calf, scared and injured, and called the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) which sent a team from the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU). The calf was brought to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where round-the-clock attention was given by WRU rangers. Given the name Taburi, the elephant has since been thriving in the wildlife sanctuary it now calls home. WRU, in a Facebook post yesterday to highlight the dangers of snares, said Taburi was one of the 'lucky' ones as many other animals did not survive. 'Snare traps are cruel and indiscriminate. It takes only a single wire to destroy a life. Most victims are never seen. They die hidden, alone, and in pain,' it said. The rescue unit said Taburi's story is a call to action. 'Say no to snare traps. Support wildlife conservation and protection efforts. Let's make our forests safe again. Every life matters. Every trap removed saves a future,' said WRU. SWD director Soffian Abu Bakar said snare traps remain a threat to wildlife in Sabah. Throughout the years of operations against these traps, he said community rangers have found that there are a number of active traps in the jungles. 'We have also found traps set up for birds,' he said when contacted. Soffian said the department would continue to deal with issues linked to poaching through initiatives such as hiring community rangers and collaborating with other agencies to fight against wildlife crime. 'We have community rangers employed under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) working with our department officials and rangers,' he added.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Investigation on stirring appearance of Bornean clouded leopard
KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation's (SFC) Swift Wildlife Action Team (SWAT) has been dispatched to Matu in the central Mukah Division of Sarawak, following the recent sighting of a Bornean clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi borneensis) there. SFC general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said the team would investigate the alleged appearance of the carnivore on a road in Matu, a video recording of which has gone viral on social media since yesterday. 'SFC views this matter seriously and has sent a SWAT team to assess the situation, which has gone viral on Facebook,' he said in a statement on the SFC's official Facebook page. According to him, SFC takes the daylight discovery of the nocturnal wildlife, which is categorised as fully protected under the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, with great interest and concern and advises residents living near the location to be more vigilant and avoid any close interaction. 'Wildlife is an invaluable asset and their protection is a shared responsibility,' he said. Abang Arabi said the discovery of the clouded leopard during broad daylight and in an area close to humans indicated the possibility of habitat disturbance or a lack of food sources in the surrounding forest clusters. However, SFC views this exciting discovery as a positive indication that Sarawak is still a natural habitat for wild animal species that are fully protected. 'This proves the success of the Sarawak government's continuous efforts through SFC in preserving and protecting the state's biodiversity,' he said. In the viral video, the clouded leopard appeared to be non-aggressive and was seen eating scraps on the road during the day and did not react to the family who filmed it from their car while passing through the area. Bernama's search on the internet found that the Bornean clouded leopard is a nocturnal mammal included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with its population estimated at only around 3,800 in the archipelago.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Was a rare leopard sighted in Sarawak recently?
In the lush forests of Sarawak, where nature's secrets often linger, a rare spectacle has captured the imagination of many. Recently, a claim that the elusive Bornean clouded leopard was recently sighted went viral on social media. Is it true that a rare leopard was sighted in Sarawak recently? VERDICT: TRUE The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) confirmed the sighting of a Bornean clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi borneensis) in the Matu area, calling it a significant indication that the state remains a natural habitat for endangered species. The elusive wild cat, which is fully protected under Sarawak's wildlife laws, was recorded during daylight hours in a location close to human settlements — a rare occurrence that experts say may point to habitat disturbance or dwindling food sources in nearby forested areas. It said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 3) that it views the matter seriously and has deployed a team to investigate the situation on the ground. "This sighting underscores the effectiveness of the Sarawak Government's ongoing efforts, through the SFC, to preserve and protect our state's rich biodiversity,' it said. The SFC urged local residents to exercise caution and avoid any direct interaction with the animal. "Wildlife is an invaluable asset, and its protection is a shared responsibility. We advise the public to remain vigilant and report any further sightings of wild animals to the authorities immediately,' it added.
