ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

摘要

Traditionally, orangutan ranges through most of southern part of Sarawak. Today, orangutan has a limited distribution in Sarawak with main population in the Batang Ai National Park (BANP) - Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS) complex. Smaller population occurs in the peat swamp forest of the Sedilu - Sebuyau and Gunung Lesong complex. Orangutan research in Sarawak began with collections and body measurements by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1855. It was more than a hundredth year later, in 1958 that any serious efforts taken to conserve the specie by listing it as protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance. Rehabilitation efforts begin in 1963 in Bako National Park was unsuccessful. A concerted rehabilitation program was introduced in Semenggoh in 1975. By 1990, there was a growing population of semi-wild orangutan in Semenggoh - result of a successful rehabilitation program. Semenggoh being too small for more release thus the rehabilitations program was later moved to Matang Wildlife Centre in 1998. With continuing threats to orangutan in the wild, future research focus on the genetic viability of existing populations and identification of the resources required to sustain them in their natural habitat. Population estimates and updating of threats to the species also assist management authority to develop and implement strategic conservation initiatives.