KOTA KINABALU: In a bid to promote awareness on wildlife and nature conservation, Gaya Island Resort officially launched its wildlife centre today.
The centre revolves around a ‘seven wonders’ programme, which include research activities on the conservation of proboscis monkey and red giant flying squirrels.
The resort’s senior resident naturalist Justin Juhun said that many are still in the dark about the beautiful animals found at the island and the resort aims to share as much information on the flora and fauna there.
Apart from designing and building its own information centre, the conservation team also spent a couple of months in the forest to improve and materialise new platforms of preservation for the proboscis monkey.
“For now we are educating visitors to the resort but in the long run, we want to expand our conservation efforts and include enriching students.
“Basically we want to bring back the spirit of ‘Pencinta Alam’ (nature lover) in schools,” said Justin at the launch.
He added the marine centre at the resort has already started the programme, engaging with students. Now the naturalist hopes to expand it to the wildlife on land.
According to Justin, there are plans to approach the Education Ministry for the centre to work with selected schools from around the area.