KUCHING: There is an urgent need for more local researchers to study all primate species in the wild.
At the same time, continuous effort must be emphasised for the orang utans.
“In general, the interest to study primates is not many. Many undergraduates prefer to take up courses such as information technology. There are only a handful of primate researchers in Sarawak,” said Sarawak Forestry Corporation biologist Sundai Silang who has been studying primates for over 12 years.
“Sarawak has quite a number of primate species, but very little is known about other species (other than orang utans). We are so lucky that all the areas that have these species are protected because the orang utans are also there, and thus, they are also taken care of.
“But in terms of ecology, habitat and so on of these other species, not much is known. So I really encourage our people, especially undergraduates to take up the challenge.”
He also highlighted that much remains unknown about the orang utans such as their population and geographical distribution in the state, and thus, research needs to be continued in these areas.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Urgent need to study Sarawak's wild primate species
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