Taliwas River Conservation Area Exploration, Yayasan Sabah

The TRCA scientific Exploration convoy’s Flag-off by YB Dato’ Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof Bin Khan Bahadar, Director of Sabah Foundation on 7th June 2022.

About the Event

This is a 10-day scientific exploration with the aims to study the biodiversity, natural resources and potential of the Taliwas River Conservation Area (TRCA), Lahad Datu as an eco-tourism destination. This scientific exploration was organised by the Sabah Foundation and other organising committee involving the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF), Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Teknologi Mara (Sabah), WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Environmental Trust, Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah Biodiversity Centre.

In this scientific exploration, UCSF Researcher Mr. Lawrence Alan Bansa and his co-researcher Nur Syamimi Makbul from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) conducted a study entitled “A Rapid Assessment of Hornbills in Taliwas River Conservation Area, Sabah”.

Abstract

The iconic tropical forest birds, hornbills, require large areas of unfragmented forest with large fruiting trees for feeding and nesting. This relatively large-bodied bird and with some species are blessed with iconic casque make them targets for hunting. Within Malaysia, all 10 species has been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia whereas Sabah and Sarawak have 8 species. The understanding of hornbill local distribution status, ecology and biology remains limited especially in Sabah. This study will assess the population of hornbill species in Taliwas River Conservation Area (TRCA) and public awareness focusing on the endangered hornbill species. This study will assess determine hornbills present and estimate its population size, through rapid assessment of hornbill via point counts and transects. Protected areas are important refugee for biodiversity and density estimates of such species are critical for population monitoring and serve as a baseline against which future changes can be measured especially in protected areas in Sabah.

Keywords: Hornbills; Taliwas, River Conservation Areas; Sabah