The Rhino and Forest Fund (RFF) is excited to announce a significant new collaboration: we’re supporting Rhiannon Peacock, a PhD candidate from Cardiff University, in her comprehensive research project on sun bears in Sabah. This project, conducted in collaboration with the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, aims to deepen our understanding of the population genetics and spatial demography of these fascinating animals.

Established in 2008 through a partnership between the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Cardiff University, the DGFC consistently contributes to long-term conservation strategies in Sabah. It conducts scientific research to better understand how wildlife survives in degraded, fragmented landscapes, which are also impacted by human pressures like hunting, agriculture, and climate change.

Rhiannon Peacock’s research project will take place over the next four years in various forest reserves and conservation areas across Sabah, including the Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary, a key operational area for RFF. The goal is to non-invasively collect hair samples from sun bears. These samples will then be analyzed using mitochondrial and microsatellite analysis to create a comprehensive database of genetically distinct populations.

Insights for Conservation

Rhiannon Peacock’s research will reveal how habitat fragmentation influences sun bear population structure, gene flow, and genetic diversity. The insights gained are crucial for future conservation strategies. They can help plan the creation of habitat corridors, inform reintroduction programs, and assist law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal wildlife trade.

Recent successes from the fieldwork include a significant milestone: in June 2025, a sun bear was captured on camera for the first time at one of Rhiannon Peacock’s project trap sites! In addition, bear hair samples have already been collected and bear signs documented at the trap locations. For hair collection, special traps are used with bait such as local shrimp paste and dried fish, with duct tape on the tree designed to catch fur as the bears climb towards the bait.

RFF is proud to be part of this important project, which will make a crucial contribution to the conservation of sun bears in Sabah.