Transformation and endurance of Indigenous hunting: Kadazandusun-Murut bearded pig hunting practices amidst oil palm expansion and urbanization in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

1. The widespread expansion of oil palm cultivation alters land-use, economic relationships, land ownership and access, and social practices across tropical forest landscapes globally. These shifts, primarily driven by broader structural forces of globalized commodity chains and transnational land grabs, profoundly reshape local socio-ecological relationships. 2. In particular, we focus on the socio-ecological dynamics between Kadazandusun-Murut (KDM) hunters of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and native bearded pigs (Sus babatus; Malay: “babi hutan”), the favored game animal for non-Muslim communities throughout much of Borneo. We conducted 38 semi-structured interviews on hunting practices and meat consumption.3. We found that meat provision was the main motivation for hunting bearded pig and that most rural hunters—and almost half of urban hunters—consume bearded pig meat at least weekly. However, roughly half of respondents also said that their motivations included pest control (kawalan perosak), recreation (hobi), and gifting (hadiah) the meat to community members, including for KDM cultural events and celebrations. Only one quarter of respondents said that selling the meat was a motivation to hunt bearded pig and others reported a taboo on commercial hunting. Pig hunting using guns on foot and by car were the two most popular techniques. Numerous respondents reported that oil palm expansion removed pig habitat and reduced the frequency of hunting by increasing travel times to forested areas and reducing time to hunt due to work commitments. 4. Therefore, our results suggest that while bearded pig hunting is still a central part of KDM culture and diets, oil palm expansion has played a major role in reshaping KDM - bearded pig hunting relationships. In addition, other factors such as wildlife law enforcement and commercialization of bearded pig meat played roles in influencing hunting practices. In this paper, we argue that the social, environmental, and economic effects of oil palm expansion profoundly reshape the hunting practices of the KDM community in Sandakan District, Sabah. We also recommend policies that allow flexible, location-specific management approaches to ensure fair access to the dietary and social benefits of bearded pig hunting, while also promoting the critical conservation needs of bearded pig populations and habitat.

African Swine Fever threatens Southeast Asia's 11 endemic wild pig species

“…Indeed, a modeling study suggests ASF has significantly reduced incomes, calorie intake, and protein for people in Asia (Mason-D'Croz et al, 2020). Hunting of bearded pigs play a particularly important role for many of Borneo's non-Muslim communities' diet and culture (Bennett, Nyaoi, & Sompud, 2000;Kurz et al, 2020). However, there is little other guidance on wild pigs importance to human diets and culture in other places.…”