By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 8: With only about 2,000 orangutans left in Sarawak and 11,000 in Sabah, conservationists are stepping up efforts to reconnect fragmented forests and safeguard the survival of the critically endangered species across Borneo.
In a press release, the World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) stated that the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), one of humanity’s closest relatives, faces mounting threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and unsustainable land use. Orangutans are solitary and wide-ranging, relying on large, connected forests to survive, yet forest connectivity in Malaysian Borneo is increasingly compromised.
According to the Final Report of Orangutan Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (2016), there are three subspecies of Bornean orangutans, Pongo pygmaeus morio in Sabah and East Kalimantan, Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus in Sarawak and northern West Kalimantan, and Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii in southern and central Kalimantan.
In Sabah, the Bukit Piton forest stands as a symbol of successful restoration. Once heavily logged and degraded, the area has been revived through years of conservation work. Today, the forest canopy is thriving and around 400 orangutans have returned to nest among regenerated trees.
WWF-Malaysia field ranger William Joseph, who has spent years patrolling the area, said Bukit Piton shows that conservation pays off.
“Bukit Piton is living proof that restoration does work. Now, our job is to keep watch, to make sure the orangutans stay, and that the forest continues to support them,” he said.
WWF-Malaysia continues to monitor orangutan populations using aerial and transect nest surveys to track movements and population trends. These data are crucial to identify key habitats and areas where forest connectivity is most urgently needed.
In Sarawak, WWF-Malaysia works closely with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), Ulu Ai Conservancy (UAC), and local indigenous communities in Ulu Sungai Menyang to protect orangutans and their habitat. The conservation effort is deeply rooted in partnerships, with local leaders and field assistants playing a central role. Among them is village headwoman Gupie Pasok of Nanga Delok Ulu longhouse, who is not only a community leader but also a trained field assistant.
For the first time, women like Gupie are joining field teams, marking a milestone for inclusivity and gender equality in conservation.
“It’s not just about collecting data. It’s about protecting our home, our heritage,” she said.
Field assistants are trained to identify orangutan nests, use GPS navigation, and track wildlife signs. The data they collect guides sustainable land use decisions, helps estimate orangutan populations, and empowers indigenous communities to take ownership of their forests.
Despite geographical differences, conservationists in Sabah and Sarawak face the same challenge, habitat fragmentation. Orangutans do not recognise state or national borders, which is why WWF-Malaysia stresses that conservation strategies must be joint and cross-border in nature.
WWF-Malaysia hopes to expand collaboration with partners in Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan to create forest corridors, share data, and establish joint monitoring programmes. These efforts aim to reconnect isolated orangutan populations and ensure that the species can move freely across landscapes.
WWF-Malaysia Senior Director of Conservation Dr Henry Chan said the future of orangutan conservation lies in connection and collaboration.
“Saving this iconic species requires more than isolated efforts. It demands connection, between forests, between people, and between programmes working toward a common goal,” he said.
“The forests of Borneo are vast, but so is our capacity to protect them. And with every nest found, every corridor restored, and every community empowered, we move one step closer to a future where orangutans, and the forests they call home, can thrive.”
At the heart of the mission are people, scientists, community leaders, rangers and local stewards, whose stories highlight a growing movement for inclusive and collaborative conservation. — DayakDaily
