KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Wildlife Health, Genetic and Forensic Laboratory joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora directory, the Sabah Wildlife Department said on Friday (May 15).
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the laboratory was one of 13 CITES-recognised laboratories worldwide. It said the laboratory met standards for wildlife forensic testing in legal proceedings.
The department said the Lok Kawi-based laboratory was the first in Borneo to reach this level. It said the recognition followed ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and scientist certification by the Society of Wildlife Forensic Science.
Danau Girang Field Centre’s scientific advisor and coordinator of the laboratory’s Forensic Unit, Dr Milena Salgado Lynn, said the US State Department funding supported the laboratory’s development since 2019.
Technical Manager of the Forensic Unit (FU), Dr Nurhartini Kamalia Yahya, said the unit processed samples locally in Sabah, reducing shipping delays and risks. She said the unit had supported almost 200 wildlife cases since 2021.
The laboratory is dedicated to screening wildlife diseases, supporting wildlife law enforcement, and conserve bio diversity in Malaysia Borneo
