KIDING ADDS JOY TO SEMENGGOH WILDLIFE CENTRE
- a newborn baby orangutan named after late keeper
Kuching, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 – SARAWAK FORESTRY is pleased to announce the birth of a baby orangutan in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre recently. The 31-year old orangutan, Lela, gave birth to her fourth baby in the wild of the Centre and was spotted carrying a baby orangutan high up on the canopy around the feeding area.
Haji Ali Yusop, Managing Director and CEO, SARAWAK FORESTRY, however said, “We are still unsure of the gender of the baby orangutan but we believe the baby is about 2 months old. It is difficult for the keepers to get close to Lela and her baby as she is extremely protective – a typical behaviour of an orangutan after her labour.”
Haji Ali Yusop who is also the Controller of Wildlife and the Director of Forests added, “In memory of the late keeper Hillary Kiding Jugah, who passed away while in service at Matang Wildlife Centre, we are honoured to name the new baby orangutan KIDING. The late Hillary has contributed for the conservation of wildlife and he was fondly remembered for having a special trait and skill in handling orangutans.”
SARAWAK FORESTRY will continue to monitor the progress of Lela and Kiding. Public are welcome to participate in the conservation of orangutan through various conservation activities organised by SARAWAK FORESTRY, especially in its Orangutan Adoption Program and Heart-to-Heart with Orangutan.
Kiding adds another feather to SARAWAK FORESTRY’s cap in its rehabilitation activities at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. The Centre was established back in 1975 to care for wild animals which have either been found injured in the forest, orphaned, or were previously kept as illegal pets. It is situated within the boundaries of the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, approximately 24 km from Kuching. Currently, there are 25 orangutans at the Centre.
Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, managed by SARAWAK FORESTRY, has become a successful centre for rehabilitation of orangutans in Sarawak. Many orangutans have been successfully reintroduced into the surrounding forest reserve through its rehabilitation program. It has also become a centre for the study of orangutan biology and behaviour, as well as a safe and natural heaven for dozens of semi-wild orangutans, born in the wild to rehabilitated mothers.
A visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is a once in a lifetime experience - a chance to see semi-wild orangutans, ranging from tiny infants to boisterous adolescents to dignified mature adults, enjoying life in a secure natural habitat. If you are interested in the conservation program at SARAWAK FORESTRY, please email your interest to info@sarawakforestry.com or visit their website at www.sarawakforestry.com.
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For further clarification or queries, kindly contact Zulkifli Baba Noor, Head of Corporate Communications, SARAWAK FORESTRY at +6082 612211 (direct) / +6082 610088 (general) / zulbaba@sarawakforestry.com