This was shared during a forum hosted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia.
Attendees were told that Sabah is home to many unique and endangered species such as the Bornean orang utan, Bornean elephant, Sunda pangolin, Bornean banteng and proboscis monkey.
The forum highlighted the threats these species face from poaching, illegal trade and habitat loss.
As such, it raised concerns over the shift of wildlife trafficking to digital platforms.
UMS said while digital platforms are now being seen as contributing to the worsening wildlife trafficking, they can also be used to monitor and report on such activities to protect Sabah’s biodiversity, underscoring the need for new approaches in detection, monitoring and response.
UMS Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation director Assoc Prof Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim, representing UMS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kassim Mansor, said universities play a pivotal role in empowering students as environmental leaders.
This includes pushing them to become responsible stewards of the environment, she said, explaining that universities are not only centres of learning and research but also platforms for nurturing responsible citizens.
“Engaging students in conservation initiatives allows them to contribute meaningfully to the protection of Sabah’s natural heritage,” she added.
Another key initiative highlighted during the forum was the Cyber Spotter Programme, which encourages youth and the public to monitor online platforms and report suspicious wildlife trade activities.
The programme aims to strengthen community participation in wildlife protection while raising awareness about the dangers of Illegal Wildlife Trade.
Dr Robecca Jumin, head of conservation (Sabah) at WWF‑Malaysia, emphasised the growing importance of monitoring illegal wildlife trade in digital spaces, noting that many transactions now take place online.
“Monitoring these activities helps conservation organisations and enforcement agencies identify emerging trends and take action to protect vulnerable species,” she said in a speech delivered by Dr Cheryl Cheah, Protect Lead of the Sabah Landscapes Programme at WWF‑Malaysia.
Jumin said that the digital landscape is constantly evolving and there is only so much government agencies can monitor.
“With greater support from youth and civil society acting as the eyes and ears of the cyber world, we can put more hands on deck to detect and report online wildlife crime. This collective vigilance is crucial in protecting Malaysia’s wildlife from online exploitation,” she added.
In addition to the forum sessions, participating organisations and government agencies hosted exhibition booths to showcase their roles and initiatives in wildlife conservation.
