US-Malaysia partnerships strengthen Sabah’s fight against wildlife crime - Borneo Post Online (2025)

KOTA KINABALU (April 15): United States-Sabah cooperation in protecting wildlife and combating wildlife crime was further strengthened this week as US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D Kagan and a 16-member delegation from the Oregon Zoo visited the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Health, Genetic and Forensic Laboratory (WHGFL) in Kampung Potuki.

The visit underscored growing people-to-people ties between the United States and Sabah, and a shared commitment to combating wildlife trafficking and bolstering scientific and forensic investigations into wildlife crime in Sabah.

Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar welcomed the delegation to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park before leading it on a guided tour of the WHGFL.

Mohd Soffian expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding US support that was instrumental in establishing the laboratory in 2012.

“Support from our US partners – government, institutions, and individuals – has been vital to our progress. Without this support, this laboratory would not have been possible. We remain committed to advancing our capabilities to protect Sabah’s wildlife, and today, even agencies like the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation rely on this facility’s forensic services,” he said.

Kagan highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling shared challenges.

“Strong US-Malaysia partnerships reflect our shared commitment to deepening people-to-people ties. This lab is a powerful example of how international cooperation – through genetics, forensic science and disease surveillance – can yield real, lasting impact in the Sabah’s fight against wildlife crime.”

Launched in 2013 and co-managed by the SWD, Conservation Medicine and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), the WHGFL is the first laboratory in Borneo accredited to ISO17025 standards for wildlife disease diagnostics and DNA forensic analysis.

In 2019, with US support, a dedicated Forensic Unit was established to strengthen enforcement against wildlife crime.

“Initially focused on disease and genetic research, the lab has since expanded to include cutting-edge forensic capabilities,” explained Dr Milena Salgado Lynn, DGFC scientific advisor and coordinator of the Genetic and Forensic Units.

“We conduct disease testing for critical illnesses such as elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV), carry out population genetics studies on threatened species like the banteng, maintain a biobank of Sabah’s protected species, and provide DNA analysis for wildlife crime investigations. The Forensic Unit handled 62 cases between 2020 and 2023 – and almost matched that number in 2024, reflecting the growing demand for our expertise.”

The Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Zoo Foundation have supported conservation in Sabah since 2008, focusing on habitat restoration, coexistence and community engagement.

Dr Melanie Billings-Yun, chairperson of the Zoo Foundation’s Board of Trustees, lauded the progress made since the WHGFL’s inception.

“I accompanied my husband, Joseph Yun, former US Ambassador to Malaysia, when he officiated the lab’s opening in 2013, and the achievements since then are remarkable. The commitment from the SWD and local scientists inspires us to keep building these partnerships, especially in support of Bornean elephant conservation.”

The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of shared values and long-term collaboration.

“With strengthened partnerships and a shared vision, this laboratory will remain a cornerstone in our efforts to protect Sabah’s wildlife for generations to come,” said Mohd Soffian.

Kagan added: “I’m proud to recognise the Oregon Zoo’s longstanding partnership in Sabah, especially through their sharing of expertise on captive elephant management with the SWD to help protect this vital species.”