A British effort for orang utans at Sepilok

By Julia Chan

Spending a week at the Sepilok Orang Utan Research Centre in Sandakan five years ago had left such a profound effect on Englishwoman Sue Sheward that she established the Sepilok Orang Utan Appeal UK on her return.

But it was not easy for Sheward, an accountant, to set up the body.

It took a year of negotiations with the Sabah Wildlife Department, 50 phone calls overseas and 25 faxes before it became a reality.

Based in the south of England, Appeal UK is dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of orang utans and their habitat in Sabah. It is the only body authorised to seek charity for the Sepilok centre.

The appeal has raised funds through donations, raffles, jumble sales, car- washes and sponsors. Two people, in fact, raised STG2,000 (RM13,400) after shaving their heads.

The appeal has also found more than 5,000 "adoptive parents" or sponsors for several orang utans. For a minimum of STG25, they can adopt a young orang utan. They are given regular updates and photographs of the adopted primates.

With the money raised, Apeal UK has funded, among other things, the construction of a new quarantine ward, a nurse, a Land Rover and a new enclosure. It has also hosted tours and exchanges for key players.

The latest project is post-release monitoring research to find out how rehabilitated orang utans cope in the wild after their release from the centre.

The pilot research will see primatologist Sheena Hynd following a particular orang utan daily to monitor its activities, including the distance it covers, nesting and feeding patterns.

Sheward said: "It was not hard to fall in love with the primates. They are such intelligent, warm and loving creatures who just tug at your heartstrings.

"It is truly an exciting project and very rewarding in terms of new data."

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre aims to educate people on conservation, carry out research and assist other endangered species, such as the rhinoceros.

Some 60 to 80 orang utans roam freely in the 43 sq km protected land at the Kabili Sepilok forest reserve.

About 25 young orphaned orang utans are taught the basics of eating, climbing and living in the wild.

Often, other wildlife such as sun bears, Sumatran rhinos, gibbons and even the occasional elephant get treated at the centre.

Courtesy of New Straits Times