Our Work
At Danau Girang Field Centre, our conservation portfolio has evolved from pioneering ecological research and university field courses into a comprehensive powerhouse for biodiversity protection. Today, our initiatives are strategically aligned with the official Sabah State Action Plans, driving real-world policy and wildlife management.
Research & Publications
Danau Girang Field Centre leads the way in tropical conservation science, using cutting-edge tools to study wildlife persistence in fragmented landscapes. Our research portfolio spans population genetics, toxicology, animal behaviour, and disease ecology. With a proven track record of 200+ scientific publications and a direct role in drafting Sabah State Action Plans, DGFC provides the essential data needed for effective environmental management in Borneo.
Conservation
OUR PROJECTS
Mitigating Pan-Borneo Highway Impacts on Bornean Elephants in Sabah
Large-scale infrastructure development poses a significant threat to wildlife migration. Our project focuses on assessing and mitigating the environmental impacts of constructing the Pan-Borneo Highway on endangered Bornean elephants in Sabah.
Regrow Borneo: Research-Led Reforestation & Carbon Sequestration
Regrow Borneo is a tropical forest restoration project dedicated to combating climate change and habitat fragmentation. Based in the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, our mission goes beyond standard tree planting—we implement an ethical, transparent, and science-backed approach to ecological recovery.
Leopard Cat & Flat-Headed Cat Research in the Kinabatangan
Our research focuses on the spatial ecology and survival of two key Bornean felids: the Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and the endangered Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps). We study how these small carnivores navigate and cohabit within the oil palm-dominated landscapes of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary..
The Role of Pangolins in Zoonotic Disease & SARS-CoV-2 Emergence
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how little we know about the origins of novel coronaviruses. At Danau Girang Field Centre, our collaborative research project investigates the viral diversity (virome) of wild Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) to better understand potential future zoonotic disease transmission to humans.
Human Impacts on the Endangered Bornean Banteng (Bos javanicus lowi)
The Bornean banteng is Malaysia’s rarest wild cattle species, facing a severe risk of extinction. At Danau Girang Field Centre, our research investigates how expanding human activities and agricultural frontiers in eastern Sabah are accelerating the vulnerability of the remaining wild populations
Protect
Since 2020, Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) has worked in close partnership with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) to drive the effective enforcement of Sabah’s official State Action Plans for Wildlife.
Supported by a prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs – INL), this multi-year initiative represents a massive leap forward in intelligence-led conservation and the deterrence of the illegal wildlife trade in Borneo.
SHIELD: Harmonised Intelligence & Legal Defence Against Wildlife Crimes
Grant period: October 2024 to September 2026
Project SHIELD (Sabah’s Harmonised Intelligence, Enforcement, and Legal Defence Against Wildlife Crimes) is an elite, multi-agency initiative dedicated to dismantling the illegal wildlife trade in Borneo.
Building on the success of Danau Girang Field Centre’s (DGFC) foundational enforcement work, this next-phase strategy is backed by a major $1.5 million (RM6.9 million) grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Rapid Response Teams (RRT): Elite Anti-Poaching Enforcement in Sabah
Grant Period: July 2022-December 2025
The Rapid Response Teams (RRT) initiative is a high-impact partnership between the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), and Yayasan Sime Darby. This three-year project (2022–2025) is designed to dismantle wildlife poaching and illegal trafficking networks across Sabah’s most vulnerable landscapes.
Supported by a RM3.8 million grant from Yayasan Sime Darby and matching funds from the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, the RRT represents a major advancement in regional wildlife security.
Educate
At Danau Girang Field Centre, our dedicated education team actively drives environmental awareness across Borneo. By delivering impactful wildlife conservation programs and partnering with local organisations, we inspire multiple generations to protect Sabah’s unique biodiversity.
