By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 20: Sarawak has reserved 234,335 hectares, which is nearly a quarter of its one-million-hectare target for Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), specifically for orangutan conservation, reaffirming its long-term commitment to biodiversity protection on International Orangutan Day 2025.
According to a press release by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), the targeted conservation zones comprise Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and its extension (182,983 ha), Batang Ai National Park and Extension (26,159 ha), Sedilu National Park (6,311 ha), Ulu Sebuyau National Park (18,287 ha), and Gunung Lesong National Park (595 ha).
These areas are home to almost 2,000 wild orangutans, with 95 per cent of the population concentrated in Lanjak Entimau and Batang Ai.
“Conservation in Ulu Sebuyau, Sedilu, and Gunung Lesong has been further strengthened under the Global Wildlife Program (GWP) Malaysia, which now manages the three parks as a unified complex.
“In 2025, GWP Malaysia allocated USD 479,436 to support SFC’s efforts in boundary security, habitat protection, and community-inclusive recovery strategies.
“Collaborations with the UNDP-GEF Global Wildlife Programme, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), WWF-Malaysia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) continue to focus on habitat conservation, wildlife crime prevention, and sustainable community livelihoods,” said SFC.
In addition to habitat conservation, rehabilitation centres at Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres currently care for 48 orangutans, with five juveniles successfully released back into the wild since 2007.
Education and awareness initiatives, such as the Heart to Heart with Orangutan programme and school engagement activities, have also been rolled out to inspire public support.
In some communities, traditional customs, such as those practised by the Iban of Lubok Antu, play a role in safeguarding the species.
The International Orangutan Day 2025 celebration was officiated by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh on behalf of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre here yesterday (Aug 19).
The week-long programme, held from Aug 19 to 24, features interactive social media outreach, conservation-themed school games, a nature photography contest, and a closing pledge ceremony.
Len Talif stressed that the orangutan is a symbol of Sarawak’s natural heritage and that its survival depends on collective responsibility from government, scientists, and local communities.
Despite challenges such as high conservation costs and limited manpower in remote areas, Sarawak’s integrated approach, combining habitat protection, law enforcement, scientific collaboration, and community participation, keeps the state at the forefront of global orangutan conservation.
These initiatives also align with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, positioning orangutan protection as a pillar of sustainable tourism and long-term biodiversity goals. — DayakDaily
