To commemorate World Orangutan Day, the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) organized an event at Zoo Negara called “The Other Malaysians.”
World Orangutan Day, celebrated on August 19th annually, aims to promote the harmonious coexistence between humans and orangutans.
The festivities took place at the National Zoo in Ampang, Selangor, featuring a fun walk, a night camp, and a “grow and glow” activity that attracted 750 participants.
Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, the secretary-general of the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, addressed the event and highlighted how the orangutan’s situation has been exploited by certain parties to tarnish the reputation of the Malaysian palm oil industry in international markets.
(From left) Hairulazim, Mad Zaidi and Rosly posing with orangutan mascots at the event. — Photos: FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
“In reality, one of the biggest threats to the orangutan population is poaching,” said Datuk Mad Zaidi during his speech. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Borneo orangutan is classified as a critically endangered species with only 104,700 remaining worldwide.
However, the World Wide Fund for Nature’s 2019 report, which studied orangutan nests between May 2014 and March 2017, indicates that the orangutan population in Sabah has remained stable for the past 15 years, as mentioned by Datuk Mad Zaidi.
MPOGCF, a foundation of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council under the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, is involved in green preservation activities that focus on orangutans, tigers, and elephants.
Around 500 individuals participated in the fun walk, where they had the opportunity to observe the Borneo orangutan enclosure, as well as orangutans from Sumatra. The Tapanuli orangutan is the third species.
Children and adults enjoying an activity for World Orangutan Day.
The event also marked the completion of a sponsorship worth RM1.1 million from the Malaysian palm oil industry through MPOGCF to upgrade the orangutan enclosure at Zoo Negara.
Hairulazim Mahmud, the acting general manager of MPOGCF, expressed his hope that the celebration would raise awareness among the public and industry stakeholders.
“We are committed to sustainability and conservation, ensuring that all palm oil processes comply with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards,” he stated.
During the event, MPOGCF announced a contribution of RM1.2 million for a population survey of orangutans in Sabah.
Other conservation initiatives include a program to plant one million trees to rehabilitate the orangutan habitat in the 2,500-hectare Ulu Segamamalua in Lahad Datu, Sabah, as well as supporting a Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) to relocate orangutans to safer habitats. Over the course of 2010 to 2020, the WRU successfully saved 61 orangutans.
Ahmad Shahdan Kasim, the conservation manager of WRU, shared plans to develop biodiversity-friendly plantations that prioritize conservation values within the palm oil industry.
Zoo Negara Deputy President Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana also attended the event.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
