Latest news with #Pangolin
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
New tourism projects to ease Semporna congestion
Christina receives a memento from Zhao Jun (third from left). KOTA KINABALU (June 6): The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has proposed two major projects aimed at retaining tourists in Tawau. Its minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew, said one of the projects is the Tawau Tourism Jetty which will allow ferries to transport tourists between Tawau and Semporna on a fixed schedule. This initiative aims to encourage tourists to stay overnight in Tawau while easing congestion in Semporna. Christina noted that Semporna, a favorite destination among Chinese tourists, is facing congestion due to its popularity for diving. The long travel distance from Tawau Airport to Semporna has also led to traffic accidents. The other project is the development of Tawau Hill Park which will see the construction of chalets, guided tours and a Pangolin Research Centre to attract eco-tourists and provide overnight options in Tawau. The project is expected to begin by year-end. The Floating Club House at Gaya Island. In addition, Christina said Sandakan will also be promoted, with funding allocated for wildlife sanctuaries such as the elephant sanctuary to ensure balanced tourism development. 'Sandakan's wildlife attractions cater to a different segment of tourists, so facility upgrades are necessary,' she said at the launch of the Floating Club House at Gaya Island today. Christina disclosed that Sabah has recorded 1.18 million visitor arrivals from January to April this year, marking a 17.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024. 'We are optimistic that tourist arrivals will continue to grow in the coming quarters, especially with improvements in transportation, logistics, food and entertainment,' she said. Christina expressed confidence that the Sabah Tourism Board's 2025 target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals is achievable. She highlighted that tourists from China, South Korea, and even France are among those contributing to the growth, with tourism operators investing heavily in new facilities to accommodate the expected increase — particularly from China. Earlier in her speech, Christina described the launch of the Floating Club House at Gaya Island as a milestone in Sabah's tourism evolution. 'This represents strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors, aiming to elevate high-value tourism in Sabah,' she said. She praised Lazy Cat International Travel Service Co. Ltd. for their substantial investment in Sabah's tourism sector, including luxury yacht services, cultural tourism ventures, and marine transportation enhancements via their local subsidiary, Cheetah Transportation Sdn Bhd. The Floating Club House, uniquely constructed atop the sea, offers sustainable luxury with facilities for dining, leisure, and scenic appreciation — setting a new benchmark for marine-based tourism experiences in the state. Also present at the launch were Malaysian Tourism Federation President Datuk Tan Kok Liang, Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd Chairman Ken Pan Ying On, CEO Thonny Chee, Cheetah Transportation Sdn Bhd Director Eric Yong, and Lazy Cat Chairman Zhao Jun.
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Pangolin: Kulu's Journey' Review: Emotional Rescue
The healing goes both ways in the documentary 'Pangolin: Kulu's Journey,' as a troubled man and an endangered mammal form a startling bond. The result is a movie so sweet and soothing you'll be forced to admit that sometimes the universe — or, in this case, Netflix — gives you exactly what you need. What Kulu needs is rescuing and rehabilitation. As a pangolin, sometimes known as a scaly anteater, this gentle beast is in high demand because of the importance of its scales in traditional Chinese medicine. Saved from illegal traffickers as a baby during a sting operation, Kulu is underweight and panicked. Once installed at the Lapalala Wildlife Reserve in South Africa, he will need constant care and monitoring for many months until he is able to survive on his own. In the hands of Gareth Thomas, a former poker player turned Volunteer Pangolin Walker, Kulu is as cherished as the average human newborn. For Thomas, whose difficult adolescence and the loss of close friends led him to seek a more emotionally meaningful life, Kulu's well-being is a round-the-clock obsession. Leading the animal to the tastiest anthill, braving predators to sleep outside his burrow, or just cuddling and playing — Thomas isn't joking when he describes himself as a helicopter parent. Beautiful to look at and unabashedly sentimental, 'Pangolin,' patiently directed by Pippa Ehrlich (whose 2020 documentary, 'My Octopus Teacher,' also revolved around a cross-species love connection), is informative yet blessedly light on talking heads. Slices of narration by the ant specialist Dr. Caswell Munyai tell us that the pangolin is believed by some African people to possess mystical powers; observing Kulu's ability to entrance his protector, that seems all too believable. 'There's got to be a point where you let go,' Thomas says, sadly, near the end. I, for one, am not convinced that he has. Pangolin: Kulu's Journey Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 28 minutes. Watch on Netflix.
