In Indonesia, habitat loss to palm oil plantations and fires is a serious issue for many species. For gibbons and siamang, the illegal pet trade adds to their continuing losses. Kalaweit Gibbons and Siamang Conservation Program is working to reverse those losses through habitat protection projects and education programs that teach local people about the value of these unusual lesser apes.
Kalaweit also works with Indonesian forestry officials on confiscating animals from the illegal pet trade and rehabilitating these endangered primates for release back to the wild.
The History of Kalaweit
Founded in 1999, Kalaweit Gibbon and Siamang Conservation Program received recognition from the Indonesian Forestry Department in 2004, giving the organization permission to work on gibbon conservation and protection throughout the country.
Today Kalaweit has two facilities caring for about 300 threatened primates at any one time.
Kalaweit Project Borneo
In Borneo, the Gibbons and Siamang Conservation Program manages four sites, each with a specific purpose in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of agile (Hylobates agilis albirbaris) and Muller's Gibbons (Hylobates muelleri).
First stop for the gibbons is the Kalaweit Care Centre, which admits the apes and houses the offices and information-education centre. From there animals are transferred to the Kalaweit Hampapak Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre. Here the gibbons are quarantined until tested for diseases. Tuberculosis is a serious problem in non-human primates and care must be taken to prevent its spread to isolated wild populations of gibbons and siamangs.
Diseased primates that cannot be released are cared for in permanent sanctuary at Hampapak. Healthy animals begin their rehabilitation here. Some of the healthy gibbons will eventually be moved to Mintin Island for release back to the wild. Others will be released in Hampapak Reserve.
In addition to serving as a release site, Hampapak Reserve already has a healthy population of gibbons in one area, which Kalaweit is working to protect. To do this, the Gibbons and Siamang Conservation Program has built a school for the local villagers and is working with them to preserve their way of life while protecting the gibbons.
Kalaweit Project Sumatra
In West Sumatra, a single centre cares for siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) and agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis). This facility is located on an island off the west coast of Sumatra. The isolation the island provides helps ensure the gibbons cared for and released here will be protected.
Other Kalaweit Programs
The Kalaweit Radio Network, which has become the most popular local radio station, is used to provide education about the gibbons and habitat protection issues.
The Kalaweit Volunteer Program allows people from outside of Indonesia to be exposed to the gibbons and the project while contributing, both financially and physically, to the work of the Gibbons and Siamang Conservation Program.
Kalaweit is one of only a few facilities that has successfully rehabilitated and released gibbons back to the wild. Their work helps individual gibbons and siamang while protecting habitat for many of Indonesia’s forest species.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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