New study shows need to re-strategise orang utan conservation approach

KOTA KINABALU: A recent study says there is a need to re-strategise orang utan conservation approaches as some measures proved to be more effective than others.

It found that in order to avoid orang utan extinction, investment should be directed to the basics of nature conservation - namely habitat protection and working with local communities to reduce threats, such as killing and capture.

The scientific paper published online on Thursday (March 10) in Current Biology titled "Effectiveness of 20 years of conservation investments in protecting orang utans", stated that orang utan populations in Malaysia and Indonesia are still rapidly declining despite over US$1bil (RM4.19bil) invested in conservation efforts between 2000 to 2020.

The study saw researchers compile data on how much was spent on forest protection and management, patrolling and law enforcement, rescue and rehabilitation as well as other strategies, and estimated how much each activity benefited the local orang utan populations compared to doing nothing.

Lead author Dr Truly Santika said a better investment strategy is needed as all three species of orang utan were currently classified as critically endangered and may face imminent extinction unless managed better.

“To our knowledge, no one has ever fully analysed the costs and benefits of different conservation activities for the likelihood of survival of a protected species.

“What the study made clear is that certain activities are more cost effective and better at saving orang utans.

“Habitat protection, patrolling, and community engagement strategies had the greatest return-on-investment for maintaining orang utan populations,” she revealed.

Meanwhile, the study found that restoration of orang utan habitat through reforestation was especially expensive when compared to forest protection and management.

Rescue and release of previously captured primates had also shown low cost effectiveness because it had little deterrent effect on the illegal orang utan killings and trade as well as not increasing wild populations within current species ranges.

“If we act now, we can protect wild orang utans in their natural habitats, which is much more cost-effective than trying to restore their populations once they have been killed, captured, or displaced from their homes,” said the study's co-author Julie Sherman.

Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) director Professor Benoit Goossens, who also co-authored the study, hoped related stakeholders including the Sabah government would use the findings in the planning of future funding and policy strategies for orang utan conservation.

“We also believe that it would be highly beneficial for orang utans and other species if data on their distribution and densities and detailed information on conservation programmes, could be transparently and centrally coordinated, made publicly available, and regularly updated by participating organisations working in species conservation,” Goossens concluded.