Mapping the distribution of the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) within natural forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Panjang, Elisa, Lim, Hong Ye, Thomas, Robert J., Goossens, Benoit ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2360-4643, Hearn, Andrew J., Macdonald, David W., Ross, Joanna, Wong, Seth Timothy, Guharajan, Roshan, Mohamed, Azlan, Gardner, Penny C., Koh, Sharon, Cheah, Cheryl, Ancrenaz, Marc, Lackman, Isabelle, Ong, Robert, Nilus, Reuben, Hastie, Alex, Brodie, Jedediah F., Granados, Alys, Helmy, Olga, Lapis, Olivia Magritta, Simon, Donna, Davies, Glyn, Te Wong, Siew, Rampangajouw, Mark, Matsubayashi, Hisashi, Sano, Chihiro, Runting, Rebecca K., Sipangkui, Symphorosa and Abram, Nicola K. 2024. Mapping the distribution of the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) within natural forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Global Ecology and Conservation 52 , e02962. 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02962

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Abstract

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world and are severely threatened by poaching the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat. In Malaysian Borneo, conservation initiatives for the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) are hindered by a paucity of data on their distribution and population size. Using MaxEnt niche modelling and consolidated species location data, we projected the distribution of Sunda pangolins in Sabah. Additionally, we assessed the accessibility of their forest habitats to humans to understand potential threats. Our model indicated that, as of 2015, approximately half of Sabah’s land area (39,530 km²) is suitable for pangolins, with 43% in protected forests, 38% in production forests, and 19% outside of these areas. Alarmingly, our data suggest that nearly all (91%) of these suitable habitats are relatively easily accessible to poachers. Our findings provide a state-level baseline understanding of Sunda pangolin distribution and assess potential threats in Sabah. These can inform short- and long-term conservation management plans for pangolin to safeguard this critically endangered species.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2351-9894
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	7 May 2024
Date of Acceptance:	22 April 2024
Last Modified:	21 May 2024 09:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168748

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