Images
February 10, 2026 - Sabah State, Malaysia
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The northeastern tip of the Malaysian island of Borneo swarms with iconic wildlife and is also a rich agricultural area, with emphasis on palm oil. This true-color image of the eastern section of the state of Sabah, which was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on February 6, 2026, shows both the drive to save the island’s biodiversity as well as widespread agricultural pressure.
The dark green rectangle in the northern section of the image is the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, home to the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros, nine species of primates, three species of protected cats, more than 300 species of birds, as well as the critically endangered Bornean Banteng—a beautiful species of small, stocky wild cattle that sports a dark body and white legs. The lighter green area surrounding the reserve primarily supports agriculture. A few coral reefs can be seen close to the southern tip of Sabah, but most of the brightly colored islands and reefs belong to the Philippines.
In 2018, the number of Bornean Banteng in the state of Sabah was estimated at about 326 individuals, according to an Action Plan for survival of the species published by the Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department. In the plan, the decline of the species in the state of Sabah is directly attributed to hunting and indirect snaring, habitat loss (including pastures), and fragmentation leading to a reduction of gene flow, and road development.
The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is one of four locations in Sabah where a herd remains, and a plan (Bornean Banteng Action Plan 2019-2018) is in place to try to keep the species alive. According to local media, a wildlife expedition began in early February 2026 with the aim to better understand wildlife in the Reserve and support management, with an emphasis on the Bornean Banteng. The 58-person group is led by the Sabah Wildlife Department in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia and supported by the Sabah Forestry Department, Hutan, UK Appeal, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Danau Girang Field Centre and Tabin Wildlife Resort.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/9/2026
Resolutions:
1km (62.5 KB), 500m (142.6 KB), 250m (160.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The northeastern tip of the Malaysian island of Borneo swarms with iconic wildlife and is also a rich agricultural area, with emphasis on palm oil. This true-color image of the eastern section of the state of Sabah, which was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on February 6, 2026, shows both the drive to save the island’s biodiversity as well as widespread agricultural pressure.
The dark green rectangle in the northern section of the image is the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, home to the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros, nine species of primates, three species of protected cats, more than 300 species of birds, as well as the critically endangered Bornean Banteng—a beautiful species of small, stocky wild cattle that sports a dark body and white legs. The lighter green area surrounding the reserve primarily supports agriculture. A few coral reefs can be seen close to the southern tip of Sabah, but most of the brightly colored islands and reefs belong to the Philippines.
In 2018, the number of Bornean Banteng in the state of Sabah was estimated at about 326 individuals, according to an Action Plan for survival of the species published by the Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department. In the plan, the decline of the species in the state of Sabah is directly attributed to hunting and indirect snaring, habitat loss (including pastures), and fragmentation leading to a reduction of gene flow, and road development.
The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is one of four locations in Sabah where a herd remains, and a plan (Bornean Banteng Action Plan 2019-2018) is in place to try to keep the species alive. According to local media, a wildlife expedition began in early February 2026 with the aim to better understand wildlife in the Reserve and support management, with an emphasis on the Bornean Banteng. The 58-person group is led by the Sabah Wildlife Department in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia and supported by the Sabah Forestry Department, Hutan, UK Appeal, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Danau Girang Field Centre and Tabin Wildlife Resort.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/9/2026
Resolutions:
1km (62.5 KB), 500m (142.6 KB), 250m (160.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
