Nabalu to be free after 6 months
Published on: Fri, Jun 13, 2025 Text Size: Liew (centre), flanked by Mohd Soffian (on her left) and Mariani, naming the baby gibbon (INSET) 'Nabalu'. Kota Kinabalu: The first birth of a North Bornean male gibbon in captivity on May 8 was named Nabalu by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Sabah-born primatologist Mariani Ramli, who is the Founder and President of Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS), accorded Liew the honour to name the baby born to parents Candyman and Manis (rescued years ago) at the Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP) site at Kg Kiau Bersatu, Kota Belud.
Advertisement North Bornean gibbons are also known as 'Kalawot'. Founded in 2013, GCS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-wilding (or release back into the wild) of Malaysia's forgotten singing apple - gibbons - who are often victims of the illegal wildlife pet trade. Borneo GReP was established in 2022. 'The birth is a historic first for this endangered species in captivity at a rehabilitation centre. I picked the name 'Nabalu' (meaning Spirit of the Mountain) for this baby gibbon by drawing names provided by Mariani when she paid a courtesy call on me recently,' Liew said, while agreeing to adopt the infant (symbolically). 'The Ministry through, the Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL), supports the Society's gibbon conservation, rehabilitation and re-wilding project.' Mariani, who is the Director of Operations at Borneo GReP, said Nabalu, together with its parents, would be released back to the wild when it is more than six months old. 'With Nabalu's birth, both Manis and Candyman have proven their readiness for 're-wilding',' she said. Successful gibbon 're-wilding' requires fulfilment of all the criteria for release based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Best Practices Guidelines For The Rehabilitation and Translocation of Gibbons. She said these include Brachiation (which means natural swinging from branch to branch), Minimal Time on the Ground (less than 5pc of time, more than 40pc in the upper canopy), Proper Socialisation (at least 3pc of time grooming and bonding with others), and Paired with a Child (that is, successful mating and co-parenting of offspring). The Minister congratulated Mariani on having gained international recognition for her gibbon conservation and rehabilitation work in Malaysia under the auspices of GCS. Notably, the primatologist was appointed as World Female Ranger Ambassador for Resilience twice - in 2024 and 2025, and the only Malaysian at that. 'You have made Sabah and Malaysia proud of your leadership in gibbon conservation through your Society,' Liew remarked. 'We also take pride in the acknowledgement that the two gibbon rehabilitation project sites in Sabah and Pahang, respectively, constitute Malaysia's only IUCN accredited gibbon rehabilitation project centres.' Not many are aware of the existence of GCS. It owns, runs, and manages the Borneo gibbon rehabilitation project site (Borneo GReP) in Kota Belud. The site in Raub (Pahang) is under the care of Operations Director Ana Jonessy, also a Sabahan. Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL) Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, who was present during the courtesy call, said gibbons rescued by the department were handed over to Borneo GReP for rehabilitation purposes. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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