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| Orangutan nest |
Orang utans were once found in abundance, yet now they are one of many endangered species in the world. What are the efforts made to protect our distant cousins?
One of the many conservation efforts made are:
The Sepilok Orang Utan Conservation Project
Batang Ai National Park
Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
Restoration of Ulu-Segama Malua in Sabah .
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| Orangutan is trained to climb |
The Sepilok Orang Utan Conservation Project
The Sepilok Orang Utan Conservation Project is carried out at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre located about 25 kilometres west of Sandakan in Sabah . The centre opened in 1964 as the first official orangutan rehabilitation project for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting and kept as pets.
The orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which covers a area of 5529 ha, much of it still virgin rainforest. Today there are 60 to 80 orangutans living freely in the forest reserve. It has become one of Sabah ’s top tourists’ destinations.
http://www.sabah.org.my/bi/know_sabah/wildlife/orangutan_conservation.aspOrangutan Island at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
The world’s first orangutan conservation and rehabilitation centre at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Semangol, Perak was opened in 2000. It was set up as an orangutan sanctuary to educate, conduct research on and better understand this endangered species. It is designed to resemble the orangutan’s natural habitat as much as possible.
The orangutans there are able to roam freely within their lush, jungle environment while visitors view them from safe, enclosed spaces built within a dedicated viewing area.
http://www.orangutanisland.org.my/Batang Ai National Park
Batang Ai National Park is located in the Sri Aman Division of Sarawak. It is located in Lubok Antu, around 250 kilometers east of Kuching. The park covers an area of 240 square kilometers of extensive tropical rainforest with a number of rare and protected species surrounding the 24 square kilometer man-made lake created by the Batang Ai hydroelectric reservoir. The park was proclaimed in 1991, and has become increasingly popular with locals and tourists despite the lack of facilities.
Access is possible by chartering a boat, as water is the main method of transportation in the area. The forest is home to the orangutans, gibbons, and hornbills. The lake creates a beautiful environment and gives a sense of peace and tranquility. The local inhabitants are mostly Iban, and tours to nearby Iban longhouses are also a tourist diversion.
http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/forweb/np/np/batangai.htmLanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary
Most of Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary areas remains inaccessible with the means of entry limited to difficult longboat journeys up various rivers such as the Lubang Baya, Engkari, Skrang, Ngemah, Poi and Katibas. Entry to the Sanctuary is controlled and limited to several access points only.
This sanctuary supports the only viable population of wild orangutans in Sarawak . Preliminary research indicates that there are about 400 orang- utans in this area. There are not many orangutans here as they are not primarily found in Sarawak .
http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/forweb/wildlife/sanc/lanjak/lanenwls.htmRestoration of Ulu Segama Malua in Sabah
The specific objective of this 3-year project is to restore 300 hectares of forest reserve land that was previously degraded by illegal cultivation of agricultural crops (mainly oil palm) to its historic mixed species forest. With the receipt of additional funding in 2008, as discussed below, the original objective has been increased to the restoration of 423 hectares of forest reserve land. The forest restoration is focused on the planting of mixed native tree species with the ultimate aim of enhancing wildlife habitat and food sources, especially for the orang utan. The restoration area is strategically linked to critical orang utan habitats within the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve.
http://www.leapspiral.org/content/project06.phpOrang-utan habitat is fragmented in some areas and degraded in many parts of the forest. This is the result of previously unsustainable logging operations before stricter measures were imposed by the State government.
With this, I hope that everyone are able to appreciate the existence of orangutans in the world. The conservation efforts are done with the collaboration of all of us. Tick-tock…Tick-tock…. The efforts begins now.
