Source : New Straits Times, Malaysia, 02 Jul '09
By : NST
  

"I am deeply impressed with what I have seen at both the Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres," Dr Berute Galdikas said after visiting the Semenggoh sanctuary last Wednesday.

	Orang utan expert she told Dr Berute Galdikas (right) with Irene Spencer, a travel consultant from the US at the Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. — Bernama picture

Galdikas, a primatologist, conservationist, ethologist and author of several books on the primate, was on a two-day visit to Sarawak.

She is also known as an authority in the field of modern primatology, having studied orang utan for 38 years in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Originating from Canada, she is currently holding Indonesian citizenship and passionately monitoring a number of 330 wild born orang utan in Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan.

"Orang utan is a difficult animal to conserve. Nevertheless, Sarawak has done a very decent job in protecting it.

"I am also impressed with the innovative measures that the state government has applied by taking people from the private sector to work with the government to improve the system."

Irene Spencer, a certified travel consultant from the US, who accompanied Galdikas, was also impressed with the conservation efforts carried out by Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

She was here to survey the potential of promoting orang utan tours for high-end interest groups.

"I am looking at the possibility of bringing in high-profile tour groups to Matang and Semenggoh by next year. This is a niche market that has great demand in the US."

Semenggoh is a centre for the study of orang utan biology and behaviour, as well as a safe and natural haven for dozens of semi-wild orang utan, graduates of the rehabilitation programme.

It is also home to numerous baby orang utan, born in the wild to rehabilitated mothers, a further testament to the success of the programme.