KOTA KINABALU: The government has shelved its plan for "orang utan diplomacy" and focus on conserving the endangered species in its natural habitat, says Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

The Plantation and Commodities Minister said conservation groups opposed the idea of sending out orang utans for adoption to oil palm importing countries.

"We have decided to keep our orang utans in their own natural habitat," he told reporters after launching the World Orang Utan Day celebration organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan on Sunday (Aug 18).

He said many conservationists had advised against the orang utan diplomacy scheme, similar to China's panda diplomacy, which he mooted on May 8.

"In my speech during the Biodiversity Forum 2024 in May, I proposed the idea of 'orang utan diplomacy' as an initiative to address the negative perceptions of the Malaysian palm oil industry.

"The idea received widespread coverage from both local and international media. Various parties, including NGOs and environmental activists, welcomed the proposal although there were some dissenting voices," he said.

Johari said according to WWF Malaysia, a census conducted between May 2014 and March 2017 recorded there were 10,000 to 15,000 orang utans in Sabah and some 2,000 in Sarawak.

He said MPOGCF would be allocating RM1.23mil to Hutan, a community-based group formed to conserve threatened habitats and wildlife species while promoting sustainable management of natural ecosystems, to carry out another census between 2023 and 2025.

Johari revealed that under the orang utan conservation programme, all activities would take place in natural habitats.

"The orang utans will be free to move, forage and breed without disturbance from humans, agricultural activities or tourism.

"Through this programme, importers of Malaysian palm oil can choose to sponsor one or more orang utans. The funds will be used to implement various programmes including collaborating with the rangers and experts to monitor the presence, safety and condition of these wild animals," he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/18/malaysia-shifts-focus-to-in-situ-orangutan-conservation