Sarawak carrying out wide-scope of research on orang utan
By JACK WONG
8 July 2007 - KUCHING, Malaysia: Sarawak, which has taken a lead role in orang utan conservation work, is carrying out a wide-scope of research on the “wild man of the forest” in Borneo.
The recently established Conservation Centre of Excellence for Orangutan Research is spearheading the comprehensive studies that cover the endangered species’ behaviour (reproduction, diet, foraging, vocalisation and nesting), its ecology, population enhancement, habitat improvement and rehabilitation programmes.
Other activities are to compile an inventory of orang utan population, DNA studies, zoonotic diseases, visitors’ impact study and eco-tourism programme.
Sarawak Forestry said the Conservation Centre of Excellence set up early this year in Nanga Delok, n the Batang Ai National Park in Sri Aman Division, had a research adminstration station to provide various facilities, like a research laboratory, telecommunication installations and accommodation for researchers.
“An allocation of RM3.65mil has been approved for the centre’s development during the Ninth Malaysia Plan,” it added in one of the leaflets published to educate the public on the conservation and rehabilitation programme for the orang utans.
The Batang Ai National Park forms part of a 404,000-ha trans-boundary biodiversity conservation area, comprising the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Santuary (Sarawak) and Betung Kerihun National Park (Kalimantan).
The conservation area has the biggest concentration of the Borneon orang utan population.
Sarawak Forestry said Malaysia had submitted the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Santuary and Batang Ai National Park (covering a total area of 232,000 ha) to UNESCO to be inscribed as a world heritage site.
“The Conservation Centre of Excellence is to provide a referral centre for orang utan research work in Borneo, facilitate and consolidate all orang utan conservation efforts and research from the totally protected areas of Batang Ai and Lanjak Entimau,” it added.
It said the orang utan rehabilitation programme was carried out by the Semenggok and Matang Wildlife Centres here where visitors could learn more about the highly intelligent animal of the rainforest.
Sarawak Forestry said the world’s orang utan population had dropped as its survival had been threatened by deforestation, human encroachment into its habitat, indscriminate hunting and the live animal trade.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/
