Numerous studies show the importance of social understanding in addressing multifaceted conservation issues. Building on a conservation planning framework, this study examines the social dimensions of wildlife conservation in Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia. It employs a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with sixty informants drawn from local community members, government officials, tourism operators, non-government organizations, and the private sector. Our results show that the incidence of human–wildlife conflicts has reduced in the region, but that conflicts among stakeholders themselves about wildlife still remain a significant threat for attaining successful conservation outcomes. Further stakeholder perceptions of increased wildlife numbers often contrast with actual counts returned by periodical surveys conducted by conservation agencies, e.g., showing a 30% decline of orangutans and a 29% decline of gibbon abundance. This shows that evidence-based conservation messages have not been communicated well. The study has implications for enhancing social values among conservation players, promoting local community empowerment and revising conservation awareness programs.

Indigenous perspectives on the effects of climate change are frequently elicited through surveys and interviews, and the responses are compared to meteorological data. However, there remains a limited approach to examining the underlying predictors that best determine Indigenous support for adaptation strategies. This study utilizes partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify the main indicators of Indigenous support for coping with unfavorable climate impacts. Using a case study and a purposive sampling approach, a survey of 328 Indigenous peoples was conducted in rural Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia. Results showed that communities’ attitudes had a large effect on the Indigenous support for adaptation (f² = 0.380), followed by the communities’ awarenesses (f² = 0.063), rapid onset events (f² = 0.051), and climate impacts on tourism (f² = 0.016). Communities prioritize the impacts of climate change on their health, livelihoods, and environmental resources. Nevertheless, they do not draw a causal link between the effects and responses to climate hazards. Coping strategies such as the inclusion of Indigenous livelihoods, a bottom-up approach, and transparent communication are suggested to cultivate Indigenous support for climate change adaptation. Decision-makers can apply these findings to prepare climate change policies and enhance the adaptation strategies of Indigenous communities.

Rural tourism has emerged as a viable domestic tourism option and a means of raising the standard of living and enhancing the environment for rural residents. Successful rural tourism greatly depends on rural tourism products and the local communities residing in particular areas. This study examines factors that influence rural community support for developing tourism in remote areas. The theoretical concept is framed by integrating social exchange theory with social representation theory. It employs a case study approach by examining multiple stakeholder views located in remote Kinabatangan, Sabah. Using a mixed-method approach and four labels of data convergence, the findings reveal conflicting views among the stakeholders pertaining to Indigenous motivation and participation in rural tourism activities. The study highlights employing a comrade approach to encourage aboriginal participation in tourism ventures, not merely depending on monetary incentives and tourism awareness campaigns.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of the dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses. Evidence shows that Ae. aegypti males are polyandrous whereas Ae. aegypti females are monandrous in mating. However, the degree to which Ae. aegypti males and females can mate with different partners has not been rigorously tested. Therefore, this study examined the rates of polyandry via parentage assignment in three sets of competitive mating experiments using wild-type male and female Ae. aegypti. Parentage assignment was monitored using nine microsatellite DNA markers. All Ae. aegypti offspring were successfully assigned to parents with 80% or 95% confidence using CERVUS software. The results showed that both male and female Ae. aegypti mated with up to 3–4 different partners. Adults contributed differentially to the emergent offspring, with reproductive outputs ranging from 1 to 25 viable progeny. This study demonstrates a new perspective on the capabilities of male and female Ae. aegypti in mating. These findings are significant because successful deployment of reproductive control methods using genetic modification or sterile Ae. aegypti must consider the following criteria regarding their mating fitness: 1) choosing Ae. aegypti males that can mate with many different females; 2) testing how transformed Ae. aegypti male perform with polyandrous females; and 3) prioritizing the selection of polyandrous males and/or females Ae. aegypti that have the most offspring.

Purpose: Community cooperation and support are essential for effective policy implementation intended to conserve critically endangered animals. However, little is known about what factors might consistently persuade people to engage positively in rural conservation initiatives.Design/methodology/approach: For this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to investigate how rural communities' conservation activities are influenced by various socioeconomic and environmental factors. We solicited informant perspectives at Borneo, Sabah, Malaysia, using household questionnaires about projects aiming to preserve multiple endangered wildlife species, such as Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Many of these animals are found in the international recognised sanctuary, the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (LKWS). We concentrated our inquiries on residents of Kinabatangan Sabah.Findings: Social, economic and environmental factors all have significant influences on Indigenous support for conservation, albeit their effects vary: perceived social impacts from protected area (PA), ß = 0.145, p < 0.05; perceived economic impacts of tourism, ß = 0.226, p < 0.01 and environmental with governance, ß = 0.448, p < 0.01; were all significant and have positive influence on the dependent construct, local support for conservation (i.e. SupCon). Personal reasons do not seem to affect this relationship, ß = 0.059, p > 0.05.Practical implications: The findings show that social perceptions, economic benefits and environmental values remain the principal elements that drive Indigenous people of the Kinabatangan region to support conservation initiatives at the gazetted sanctuary.Originality/value: Emerging studies worldwide show the importance of connecting ecological conservation studies with a good understanding of human values to improve conservation outcomes. This study examines the motivational factors driving local involvement to provide valuable insights into fostering local socioeconomic improvement and aligning it with the success of conservation efforts. This study is the first to assess how personal values impact Indigenous support for conservation in Kinabatangan.