Association of Zoos and Aquariums

KINABATANGAN ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION PROJECT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION AWARD

CONTACT: Jane Ballentine, (301)562-0777, x 252

CHICAGO, IL, September 18, 2005 – The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today awarded International Conservation Award to the three zoos who have participated cooperatively in the "Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project." Project officials accepted the award at AZA's 81st Annual Conference, meeting here this week.

Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are a critically endangered species that has lost 80% of its former pristine habitat. In Sabah, Malaysia, many orangutans still occur outside of primary forest, in forests that have been selectively logged. Rather than regard these animals as ultimately doomed, Pittsburgh Zoo Research Fellow Dr. Isabelle Lackman-Ancrenaz and her husband, Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, together with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), decided to conduct the first ever study on how orangutans cope with changes in their habitat.

With this aim, the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project (KOCP) was set up in 1998 in the Kinabatangan floodplain in Eastern Sabah, a corridor of highly degraded forests that still harbors remarkable wildlife diversity and abundance, including one of the largest orangutan populations in Malaysia.

An integral part of the project is capacity building for local people and communities. Since its inception the project has grown from a team 5 villagers to 42 skilled local research assistants. Local partnerships have been developed, like Red Ape Encounters, a community-based ecotourism venture. On a more professional level, KOCP has helped design university-level conservation courses, and in 2003 KOCP and SWD held the first International Workshop on Orangutans.

The three zoo participating in this project are the Pittsburgh zoo and PPG Aquarium, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The International Conservation Award is presented each year by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for recognition of outstanding dedication to international conservation issues and development of natural resources.

NOTE: For additional information, please contact Connie George at 412.365.2530.

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