BARN OWL AND RODENT RESEARCH GROUP (BORG), UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA 
 

About BORG

Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG) was formed in 2014 by researchers from different research backgrounds such as pest management, animal science, veterinary, genetics and pesticides resistance from School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The main goal of the group is to conserve barn owl population in Malaysia and promote barn owls as biological control agent of rat populations both in agriculture areas and urban settings.

To achieve these goals, BORG actively conducts research related to barn owls and rats. BORG also conducts education programs to the public to create awareness about the importance of barn owls to our ecosystem. Education programs such exhibitions are conducted at a school and community level. To date, the group has run a series of awareness exhibitions via Universiti Sains Malaysia and also through the Young Scientist Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia road shows.

BORG is also in active collaboration with key players from the oil palm industry, government authorities such as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), NGOs, private sectors and multinational companies to promote and conduct research on barn owls as an important component in developing sustainable pest management. Current research projects involve barn owl urbanization, introducing barn owl in island and tourist spots, and translocation of barn owl to Sabah and Sarawak. BORG is also conducting various studies to tackle rat pest problems; from testing chemical rodenticides to searching for more sustainable and environment-friendly rat control solutions.