Latest news with #gibbons
Malay Mail
08-08-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Braving mockery, Malaysia's first all-Orang Asli female ranger unit fights to save endangered gibbons
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Sunnyda Yok Nun, a 38-year-old woman from Malaysia's Semai tribe, remembers seeing gibbons for the first time while she was training to protect the animals as part of the country's first all-female, all-Indigenous wildlife ranger unit. Drawn to gibbons since she was a child, Sunnyda, also known as Cidot, said of their melodic calls: 'Their voices are so powerful, as they overpowered the sound of the river.' Malaysia is home to five species of gibbons, all of which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily due to habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. The ranger unit is an initiative led by the Gibbon Conservation Society in Pahang state on the Malaysian peninsula. Many of the seven women in training never imagined themselves working in conservation. Sunnyda A/P Yok Nun, a member of an all-female Indigenous wildlife ranger team, also known as Cidot, shares a light moment with fellow rangers and volunteers during the Gibbon Conservation Society's morning briefing at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre in Raub, Malaysia July 22, 2025. — Reuters pic The Semai, who live in Pahang, are an ethnic Indigenous group that is among some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Malaysia. They often have limited access to resources including healthcare, education and jobs, with traditional views often confining women to domestic roles. 'People have mocked us. My own family said hurtful things, but I chose to ignore them,' Cidot said. The Gibbon Conservation Society currently cares for 29 gibbons — 18 at its Pahang rehabilitation centre, and 11 in Sabah state on Borneo island. Founder Mariani Ramli said the women were now working independently to care for the gibbons, showing their deep connection to the animals. 'One day, I hope this entire project can be handed over to them,' she said. 'It's just a matter of giving them encouragement and also opportunity for the ladies to show their strength.' — Reuters
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Meet these Malaysian tribal women saving gibbons from hairy situations
Sunnyda Yok Nun, a 38-year-old woman from Malaysia 's Semai tribe, remembers seeing gibbons for the first time while she was training to protect the animals as part of the country's first all-female, all-indigenous wildlife ranger unit. Drawn to gibbons since she was a child, Sunnyda, also known as Cidot, said of their melodic calls: 'Their voices are so powerful, as they overpowered the sound of the river.' Malaysia is home to five species of gibbons, all of which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily due to habitat loss, hunting and the illegal pet trade. Sunnyda Yok Nun (left) supervises the preparation of a space for a gibbon to be introduced to its companion at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre in Raub, Malaysia, on July 22. Photo: Reuters The ranger unit is an initiative led by the Gibbon Conservation Society in Pahang state on the Malaysian peninsula. Many of the seven women in training never imagined themselves working in conservation. The Semai, who live in Pahang, are an ethnic indigenous group that is among the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Malaysia. Sunnyda Yok Nun leads members of the public in performing the 'Sewang', a traditional Semai indigenous dance, during the Women's Day celebration at Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, on March 8. Photo: Reuters They often have limited access to resources including healthcare, education and jobs, with traditional views often confining women to domestic roles.
Reuters
08-08-2025
- General
- Reuters
Malaysia's Indigenous women rangers defy tradition to protect endangered gibbons
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Sunnyda Yok Nun, a 38-year-old woman from Malaysia's Semai tribe, remembers seeing gibbons for the first time while she was training to protect the animals as part of the country's first all-female, all-Indigenous wildlife ranger unit. Drawn to gibbons since she was a child, Sunnyda, also known as Cidot, said of their melodic calls: "Their voices are so powerful, as they overpowered the sound of the river." Malaysia is home to five species of gibbons, all of which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily due to habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. The ranger unit is an initiative led by the Gibbon Conservation Society in Pahang state on the Malaysian peninsula. Many of the seven women in training never imagined themselves working in conservation. The Semai, who live in Pahang, are an ethnic Indigenous group that is among some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Malaysia. They often have limited access to resources including healthcare, education and jobs, with traditional views often confining women to domestic roles. "People have mocked us. My own family said hurtful things, but I chose to ignore them," Cidot said. The Gibbon Conservation Society currently cares for 29 gibbons - 18 at its Pahang rehabilitation centre, and 11 in Sabah state on Borneo island. Founder Mariani Ramli said the women were now working independently to care for the gibbons, showing their deep connection to the animals. "One day, I hope this entire project can be handed over to them," she said. "It's just a matter of giving them encouragement and also opportunity for the ladies to show their strength."
Malay Mail
22-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Man caught at KLIA trying to smuggle four gibbons to India
PUTRAJAYA, June 22 — A local man was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said in a statement today that the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect's luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai, India, scheduled to depart Friday night. 'The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,' the statement said. AKPS said the gibbons have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for investigation and further action. The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. 'AKPS, AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes,' the statement added. — Bernama
