KUCHING: Borneo Adventure tour guides, Paul Matthew and Lemon Praddy, along with three tourists, experienced a rare and thrilling moment as they observed an orangutan mother with twins at Batang Ai on Jan 16, 2024.
Borneo Adventure said this is the first reported sighting of orangutan twins in Sarawak.
In a statement on Thursday (Feb 29), Borneo Adventure disclosed that the orangutan twins were seen near Borneo Adventure’s Nanga Sumpa lodge and were observed for 45 minutes before moving off into the rainforest.
The twins have been named Paul and Lemon after the guides who first spotted them.
“Twinning is an exceptionally rare occurrence with orangutans, and bringing up twins poses challenges for the mother.
“Holding on to two babies high up in the rainforest canopy is challenging, and there is a risk that the babies could lose their grip and fall as the mother moves through the canopy.
“The mother must also search for more food to produce enough milk for her twins.”
The success of raising twins relies on a safe and productive environment that provides sufficient food and habitat for the orangutan to survive.
The landscape of the upper Delok River at Batang Ai continues to provide this habitat, thanks to the long-term commitment to conservation by both the local community and Borneo Adventure.
“Borneo Adventure has been operating tours in this area since 1987, in cooperation with the local communities. These tours feature the local environment and advocate conservation of the resources.
“The community and the company’s long-term commitment to conservation has resulted in a sustainable tourism product and a thriving orangutan and wildlife population.
“Protecting this habitat has not been without challenges and the government of Sarawak has been supportive.
“Much of the area outside the existing protected areas has now been designated as a conservation area to protect the forest required to ensure the survival of orangutans in their natural habitat.”
This decision was based on information gathered during orangutan nest surveys in 2012 and 2013 that demonstrated the importance of the area for conservation.
This effort was aided and supported by the Sarawak Forest Department (SFD) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) along with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Borneo Adventure and the local communities.
Borneo Adventure pointed out that the fact that the area in question is valuable orangutan habitat and also provided livelihoods through tourism is the main reason the area was set aside for conservation.
According to Sarawak Forestry Corporation chief executive officer Abang Arbi Abang Aimra, the sighting of the twins is indeed really good news.
“It shows that the conserved area has both living habitat and ample food for the mother to provide nourishment for the twins. SFC will also continue to work with the private sector and communities to ensure that the population continues to persist in perpetuity.
“The twin baby orangutan provides a timely reminder of the importance of Sarawak’s natural environment and our duty to protect this heritage.”
