Monday June 29, 2009
KUCHING: A world renowned orang utan expert, Dr Birute Marija Filomena Galdikas, was impressed with the orang utan rehabilitation efforts in Sarawak, especially at the Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres near here.Dr Galdikas, a primatologist, conservationist, ethologist and author of several books related to endangered species, is also known as an authority in the field of modern primatology, having studied orang utan for 38 years.
"Orang utan is a difficult species to conserve. Nevertheless, Sarawak has done a very decent job in protecting them," she said after visiting Sarawak Forestry's orang utan rehabilitation centres in Matang and Semenggoh.
She was also impressed with the innovative measures the state government had implemented in taking good care of the orang utan by involving the private sector as well.
Born in Canada and now holding Indonesian citizenship, Dr Galdikas monitors 330 orang utans in Kalimantan.
Dr Galdikas is also famous for being the third member of a women trio, known as the 'Leakey's Angels'. The other two are Jane Goodall, who studied chimpanzees and Dian Fossey, famous for her pursuit to study and protect mountain gorillas.
Irene Spencer, a certified travel consultant from the United States who accompanied Dr Galdikas, was equally impressed with the conservation efforts carried out by the Sarawak Forestry.
She was here to look at the potential of promoting orang utan tours for high-end interest groups to Matang and Semenggoh by next year as it was a niche market that has great potential and demands in the United States. - Bernama
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: South & East 29 June 2009
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