KOTA BELUD: The Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP) at Kiau village here will begin operations this Saturday.
The project will focus on rehabilitating two endangered species of gibbons – the North Bornean Gibbon (Hylobates funereus) and the Abott's Gray Gibbon (Hylobates abbotti).
Both singing primates species, categorised as endangered by the IUCN Red List, are important seed dispersers in Malaysia's tropical rainforest.
Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS) president Mariani Ramli or Bam, a Sabahan, stated that she was excited to start serving and caring for the wildlife in her home state.
"The project currently houses five North Bornean Gibbons (Hylobates funereus), who arrived on Jan 17. Most of these gibbons are former pets.
"Over the next few weeks, the Borneo GReP team will gather data on each individual gibbon to assess their psychological state and needs, in order to create a rehabilitation plan for each of them.
"Rehabilitation takes many years depending on each gibbon's experienced trauma and ability to relearn their natural behaviours.
"We hope that all five gibbons will be able to be released one day."
Borneo GReP will also be the first eco-edu tourism centre in Malaysia that opens its doors for primate research, tourism, job opportunities for locals.
For the last 10 years, Bam has been running the Malaya Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Malaya GReP), located in Raub, Pahang and focusing on the three gibbon species of Peninsular Malaysia - the Lar Gibbon, the Agile Gibbon and the Siamang.
Bam has won many awards and received many accreditations including being the only Malaysian member of the IUCN Section on Small Apes (Captive Care), winning the 2018 American Society of Primatologist's Conservationist Award in recognition of her exceptional work to protect primates in Malaysia, being acknowledged as Malaysia's Eco Champion by Jane Goodall, receiving the Edge's Inspiring Young Leader Award 2019, the Star Golden Heart Award 2022 and more.
On Saturday, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative minister and Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick and several key leaders are expected to attend the launch.