The tropical rainforests of Borneo support five species of wild cat: the clouded leopard, bay cat, flat-headed cat, marbled cat and leopard cat. The behavioral ecology of none is well known, and the dynamics of their interactions are obscure. One species is endangered, three are threatened, and their presumed habitat is rapidly being lost or altered in the region. Hunting of these cats and their prey poses an additional threat.

Felidae Conservation Fund, in partnership with the Global Canopy Programme (UK), the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC) at the University Malaysia Sabah, and the WildCRU have recently launched a three-year initiative- the Bornean Wild Cat and Clouded Leopard Project. This project, undertaken by Oxford graduate students Andrew Hearn and Joanna Ross, is aimed at addressing the conservation needs of the Bornean wild cats. It is based at Danum Valley, an area of pristine forest within a one million hectare timber concession, and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, an area of secondary forest surrounded by Palm oil plantations, both located in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

This project aims to facilitate the conservation of Borneo’s endangered wild cats by merging pioneering ecological research, host country capacity building, and environmental education. The research will provide base-line data regarding the behavior and ecology of the five species of Bornean wild cat. Our research activities will also provide an insight into the relative abundance of each species, and the impacts of various forest management practices on these little known felids- information which is essential to facilitate the development of effective management and conservation measures.

To employ this study, each of these species is under investigation through the use of a large-scale camera-trapping study and a subsequent radio-telemetry study. Wild cats will be trapped, collared, and radio-tracked to further investigate spatial patterns, ranging behavior, activity patterns, and habitat use of the Bornean wild cats.

Additional aims are to provide conservation research training to host country scientists and students, by means of mammal field-research courses for ASEAN region scientists.

This project also aims to increase awareness of the Bornean wild cats among local people, schools, University students, and tourists by producing and disseminating wild cat-specific education materials. Questionnaire surveys will be conducted throughout the villages and the oil palm plantation communities surrounding the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, to assess the potential level of hunting/trade of the wild cats and their prey, and to assess local people's knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and perceptions about conservation. Project findings will be used to provide recommendations for a Bornean wild cat conservation action plan that will be presented at a Bornean wild cat conservation workshop at the end of the project.

Overall, the project aims are as follows: to study the behavior and ecology of the five species of Bornean wild cat, with a focus on the clouded leopard; to investigate the effects of habitat alteration on Bornean wild cats; to increase awareness of the Bornean wild cats and their conservation needs, using the clouded leopard as a flagship species; to train host country scientists and students in mammal field-research techniques; and to investigate threats to the Bornean wild cats from hunting and trade in Sabah.