KOTA KINABALU: An endangered carnivore, the elusive Bornean ferret badger, is found only in Sabah’s mountain forests, according to the largest study conducted on the mammal.
Researchers recorded the species more than 400 times during a four-year study and discovered a previously unknown population in the Nuluhon-Trusmadi Forest Reserve, extending its known range eastwards beyond the Kinabalu-Crocker landscape.
The study, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, analysed data collected between 2021 and 2024 from 188 camera-trap stations across Sabah’s western highlands.
Conducted by researchers from the Bornean Carnivore Programme, part of the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), together with the Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Parks, it is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the species known scientifically as Melogale everetti.
Researchers documented 407 independent detections of the animal and found that suitable habitat remains largely confined to the Kinabalu-Crocker-Trusmadi mountain landscape, reinforcing its status as one of South-East Asia’s most geographically restricted carnivores.
The findings also support its classification as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Lead author Dr Andrew Hearn, director of the Bornean Carnivore Programme at WildCRU, said few places in the world could claim such an honour.
“Despite decades of wildlife surveys across Borneo, all confirmed records remain confined to the Kinabalu-Crocker-Trusmadi mountain landscape.
“Few places in the world can claim a mammal found nowhere else on Earth, and Sabah should be proud to be one of them,” he said.
Weighing about one kilogramme, the nocturnal mammal is rarely seen by people and remains one of Sabah’s least-known wildlife species.
Camera traps have captured images of the animal foraging on the forest floor at night, including one in which it is carrying a snake, offering researchers a rare glimpse into its secretive behaviour.
Field manager Mohammad Aliyuddin Jaini said he was surprised to discover the species near his family’s farm in Tambunan.
“I decided to place some camera traps around my family’s farm simply to see what wildlife might be there, and I was amazed when a Bornean ferret badger appeared in the photographs.
“To discover that an endangered species found only in Sabah was living right on our doorstep was a special moment,” he said.
“I hope this study helps more Sabahans appreciate and take pride in the remarkable wildlife that makes our state unique.”
Mohammad Aliyuddin added that the findings of the study augur well for Sabah, especially with World Environment Day celebrated on June 5.
Researchers believe the Bornean ferret badger could become a flagship species for conserving Sabah’s montane ecosystems, which support many endemic plants and animals and serve as important water catchment areas for communities across the state.
Hearn said conserving the species ultimately means protecting Sabah’s mountain forests.
“This species is part of Sabah’s natural heritage, and its future depends on the continued protection of these forests and the partnerships that have helped safeguard them,” he said.
