Mungutan Vanar, The Star 19 Jan 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not keen to relocate any orangutans to peninsular Malaysia for eco-tourism purposes.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that not only was it dangerous to remove the environment-sensitive primates from their natural habitat, but local people were also against such a move to send away the state’s icon.
He was commenting on a proposal by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk James Dawos Mamit to obtain orangutans from Sabah and Sarawak to set up an eco-tourism attraction similar to the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary in Sandakan and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Kuching.
Masidi said that orangutans were not like some other animals that could be relocated from their habitat easily, and such movement could prove traumatic for them.
He said relocating an orangutan involved a lot technicalities and planning, saying they cannot be just caught and flown out to another location.
“The orangutans should stay where they are. Those who want to see orangutans will have to come to Sabah to see them,” Masidi said on Tuesday.
Mamit had told reporters in Kuching on Sunday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had requested some orangutans be sent to peninsular Malaysia to promote eco-tourism.
Masidi said that there has been no official request made to the state government for the orangutans.
“If there is, we are willing to talk and explain our views,” he said.
There are about 11,000 orangutans left in Sabah, and the Sabah Wildlife Department is working towards rehabilitating orangutans affected by forest clearings for agricultural purposes over the years.
Come to Sabah to see our orang utans, says Masidi
New Straits Times 20 Jan 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Orang utans should be left in their natural habitat and it is for this reason that the Sabah government has set aside over 300,000ha of forest for wildlife to live and multiply.
This was the response from state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun to a statement by newly appointed federal deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit who said some orang utans from Sabah and Sarawak may be sent to the peninsula for eco-tourism purposes.
"I have never heard of this proposal. If it's true, there are so many aspects of the proposal that need to be considered.
"Transporting or relocating orang utans is not as easy as sending over our cats or dogs," he said when contacted.
Mamit was reported in The Borneo Post as saying that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had requested that some orang utans be sent to the peninsula for eco-tourism purposes.
Mamit, who was positive about the idea saying that it could be done, indicated the matter would be discussed with officials from both Sabah and Sarawak. There are an estimated 11,000 orang utans in Sabah, with some undergoing rehabilitation at three different locations statewide.
Orang utans in the wild are only found on Borneo island and in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Masidi said the people of Sabah would not want the primates to be taken away to the peninsula as the species is an icon they are proud of.
"The orang utans should stay where they are.
"Those who want to see the orang utans will have to come to Sabah to see them."
