Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 – “Sarawak has done an excellent job on Orangutan rehabilitation. I am deeply impressed with what I’ve seen at both Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres.” These are the testimony from the world renowned orangutan expert, Dr. Biruté Marija Filomena Galdikas after visiting SARAWAK FORESTRY’s orangutan rehabilitation centres in Matang and Semenggoh, near Kuching.
Dr. Galdikas, a primatologist, conservationist, ethologist and author of several books relating to the endangered species and orangutan was on her 2-day visit to both wildlife centres, hosted by SARAWAK FORESTRY. Having studied orangutan for 38 years, she is also known as an authority in the field of modern primatology. Originated from Canada, she is currently holding the Indonesian citizenship and passionately monitoring a number of 330 wild born orangutans in Kalimantan.
“Orangutan is a difficult animal to conserve. Nevertheless, Sarawak had done a very decent job in in protecting the orangutans.” added Dr. Galdikas. “The Sarawak Government is taking good care of the orangutans. I am also impressed with the innovative measures that the State Government had applied by taking people from the private sector to work with the Government to improve the system.”
Irene Spencer, a certified travel consultant from USA, who accompanied Dr. Galdikas, was also impressed with the conservation efforts carried out by SARAWAK FORESTRY. She commented, “I can see that the Sarawak Government has a deep and great respect on orangutan.” She was here to survey on the potential of promoting orangutan tours for high-end interest groups. “I’m looking at the possibility of bringing in high profile tour groups to Matang and Semenggoh by next year. This is a niche market that has great demands in the US.”
Wilfred Landong, Chief Park Warden, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, who accompanied Dr. Galdikas led the tour to show the various rehabilitation process of orangutan, the veterinary clinic, feeding station, orangutan enrichment program and followed by a briefing session on orangutan conservation in Sarawak.
Semenggoh’s role has changed and it is nowadays a centre for the study of orang utan biology and behaviour, as well as a safe and natural haven for dozens of semi-wild orang utan, graduates of the rehabilitation programme. It is also home to numerous baby orang utan, born in the wild to rehabilitated mothers, a further testament to the success of the programme.
A visit to Semenggoh is a once in a lifetime experience - a chance to see semi-wild orang utan, ranging from tiny infants and boisterous adolescents to dignified mature adults, enjoying life in a secure natural habitat.
Dr. Galdikas is also famous for being the third of a trio of women known as ’Leakey’s Angels’, hand-picked by Leakey to study mankind’s nearest relatives, in their natural habitat. The other two were Jane Goodall, who studied chimpanzees, and Dian Fossey, infamous for her pursuit to study and protect mountain gorillas.
Dr. Galdikas research to date has helped further burnish Leakey’s legacy and world knowledge on orangutan by greatly expanding scientific knowledge of orangutan behavior, habitat and diet.
