KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) —  The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) is sponsoring RM1.1 million to upgrade the Bornean Orang Utan Showcase at Zoo Negara in a move to promote national orang utan conservation initiatives.

MPOGCF general manager Zamakhshari Muhamad said the sponsorship was a part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts to advocate for harmonious coexistence between humans and orang utans, especially in promoting its concept of ‘Living Together in Harmony’.

It was introduced at the beginning of August this year, by putting fourth the idea that endangered and protected wildlife species make part of the nation’s inhabitants, such as the Bornean orang utans, through its “The Other Malaysians” campaign.

“MPOGCF’s sponsorship of the Bornean Orang Utan Showcase will allow Zoo Negara to make significant improvements to their open-concept enclosure, which would include restoration and conservation work, in ensuring that the Bornean orang utans currently housed at the Ape Centre would continue to live well under the Zoo’s care and supervision,” he said at the handing over of the cheque here today.

Also present were Zoo Negara president Datuk Sr Zaharin Md Arif, Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly Rahmat Ahmat Lana and MPOGCF Board of Trustees member Hairulazim Mahmud.

Zamakhshari  said the orang utan population is often linked to the oil palm plantations in Malaysia which contributed to the negative perception to the extent that the country’s palm oil industry receives unfair treatment internationally.

“The real threat that contributed to the extinction of the orang utan is poaching apart from the long birth interval (once every seven years) that makes the orang utans grow and breed very slowly.

“Therefore, the MPOGCF as the lead agency in the conservation of the environment is responsible for correcting the negative perception because the palm oil industry is a major contributor to the country’s economy and development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hairulazim said he hoped the strategic collaboration would introduce MPOGCF to the locals and overseas visitors, thus promoting the palm oil support industry to efforts to wildlife conservation.

“MPOGCF is supportive of green conservation through funding for projects or conservation initiatives to restore and enhance the image of Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil industry internationally,” he said,

Among the projects that are funded by MPOGCF that are currently and will be implemented are the Million Tree Planting Programme, the setting up of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary, the Malayan Tiger Conservation Programme and the development of the Conservation and Education Park at the Kuala Terengganu Botanical Park in Kuala Terengganu.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency