Protecting the Bornean banteng

New research has found that preserving large forest areas is essential in protecting the most endangered large mammal in Sabah - . The Bornean banteng is highly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and heavy poaching, leading it to become an endangered species. But collaborative research has uncovered factors that play a vital role in the conservation of this species. A team of researchers from Cardiff University, the Danau Girang Field Centre and the Sabah Wildlife Department studied the herd populations in Sabah, analysing the sexual segregation and the effects of forest management, using camera traps in six forest reserves. The researchers found that forest regeneration age, type of site within the forest reserve, presence of salt licks, habitat vegetation and distance to the nearest forest border had significant effects upon banteng herd sizes. Dr Penny Gardner, Bornean Banteng Conservation Officer for Danau Girang Field Centre, said: "Our findings mean that logging and the type of sites created by harvesting activities are influencing the way bantengs behave and organise themselves - a very important factor for species which are highly social like the banteng. "Bantengs need large forests to evade human activity and to maintain large herd sizes, which are crucial for maintaining social behaviours like breeding.