AS-HOPE report

Number: AS-23-MA14

On-the-job training of wildlife in the Conservation Area of Sabah,

Report: Yoshida Yayoi

Date: 2011/6/24 - 2011/7/1

 Sabah in Malaysia is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. There are many national parks, wildlife reserves and protection area. In order to study wildlife animals and vegetation, we visited Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah. We walked 10 km in forest from Main Center to a Base Camp. We could find several species of birds and several feeding traces of mammals. It was difficult to find out and identify the animals in a thick forest. We also observed during the night by using a searchlight. It was more difficult to find the animals in the dark forest than during daytime. I am interested in the acoustic ecology. In the forest at the sunrise and sunset, many animals produced sounds. During daytime, animals became quiet and at night also different animals (ex. Frogs, Bats) made sounds. Unfortunately we could not observe many animals the personally, however I felt the biological rhythm from the animal sounds in the forest ecosystem.

 After studying in the conservation forest, we attended MOU and workshop which were held in kotakinabalu. Many researchers presented about the conservation activity of Conservation Area including Maliau Basin where we visited. They just started to do research and other activities, so they need to decide how to treat the environment in each activity. We also joined the debate of the small groups in workshop and discussed about the necessary process in order to protect their resource and wildlife. This discussion gave me a good chance to think about the relationship between a researcher and local people, place and animals. It was a great experience to talk with the local researchers in this workshop.

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