Second rehab centre for gibbons being built

KOTA KINABALU: An effort to shine the light on a lesser-known endangered animal in Sabah, the gibbons, is underway with the introduction of a rehabilitation project in a village in Kota Belud.

The Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP) will be based in Kampung Kiau, 90km from Kota Kinabalu.

This is the first such project here to focus on these singing apes.

It is the second rehabilitation centre of Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS) after the first one in Raub, Pahang established in 2013, said GCS president Mariani “Bam” Ramli (pic).

While the peninsula counterpart focuses on the Lar gibbon, Agile gibbon and siamang, Sabah will focus on the North Bornean and Abbott’s Gray gibbons.

Work to build enclosures started in April with a plan to house five rescued gibbons from the Sabah Wildlife Department.

“Borneo GReP will also involve the community there with the concept of eco-edu-tourism, and so local association Gompito will help create the awareness,” she said.

While RM100,000 has been pledged by Germany’s non-profit organisation Nepada Wildlife to kick off Borneo GReP, they would need between RM10mil and RM15mil to fully complete the project at an 8ha land that could take in 30 gibbons.