Is ecotourism an outdated solution to orangutan conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo?

Thompson, Ellis E.

doi:10.15760/honors.406

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(120 reference statements)

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“…Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia, and is located on the northwest coast of Borneo, facing the South China Sea. It is a tropical country with uniform temperatures, high humidity, and copious rainfall [15]. Situated at equatorial doldrums between roughly 4 • N and 7 • N, under the monsoon and typhoon belt, Sabah is often referred to as "The Land Below the Wind" [16].…”

Section: Sampling Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance, Distribution, and Characterization of Microplastics on Two Recreational Beaches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Zahari

Vincent

Cleophas

et al. 2023

Water

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Currently, there is a lack of assessment of the level of microplastics (MPs) pollution on recreational beaches around the world. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the current state of MP pollution on two popular recreational beaches of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, namely, (1) Tanjung Aru Beach and (2) UMS ODEC (Outdoor Development Center) beach. MPs from the sediments were extracted using the density separation method and analyzed through a stereoscopic microscope. The overall MPs abundance, weight, size, colors, and polymer types were recorded. Tanjung Aru beach recovered higher numbers of MPs particles for all stations, with 857 MPs/kg dry sediment with a total mass concentration of 57.72 g/kg, while UMS ODEC recorded 160 MPs/kg particles with a total mass concentration of 17.96 g/kg. The maximum MPs abundance was observed in the size of <1 mm with a high proportion of white/transparent coloring. Micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that polypropylene (PP:60%) and polyethylene (PE:43%) were the two most common plastic polymers found on both beaches, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the least common was polystyrene (PS). Metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, and nickel) were found within the MPs collected. The present study demonstrated an alarming quantity of MPs on two recreational beaches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. However, information concerning the primary sources, local dynamics, and repercussions of MPs in this location is still limited; thus, further research is required.

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Section: Sampling Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance, Distribution, and Characterization of Microplastics on Two Recreational Beaches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Zahari

Vincent

Cleophas

et al. 2023

Water

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“…The expected practice of the orangutan conservation program is to release orangutans into forests and protect their natural habitats. However, high pressure on their habitats, conflicts, poaching, and smuggling have encouraged the development of orangutan conservation centers to rescue and rehabilitate problematic orangutans and solve financial problems of wildlife conservation [34,55,94]. In orangutan conservation centers, the rescued orangutans are domesticated and have become captive or semi-captive.…”

Section: Managing Captive and Semi-captive Orangutans In Conservation...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Orangutan Ecotourism on Sumatra Island: Current Conditions and a Call for Further Development

Purwoko

Kuswanda²,

Situmorang³

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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This paper aimed to provide a narrative review of the current conditions of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island, problems in the current management systems, and some recommendations for further development. Orangutan conservation centers have been developed on Sumatra Island since 1973. The Bukit Lawang Conservation Station is one of the orangutan conservation centers that have practiced ecotourism to overcome ecological and socio-economic issues. Even though the Bukit Lawang Conservation Station has operated for decades, this station has faced several issues, in particular a monetary crisis in 1997, a flash flood in 2003, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified that orangutan conservation centers on Sumatra Island have the potential to support orangutan ecotourism. These conservation centers have ecological support, available facilities, and rich local wisdom that can provide added value for orangutan ecotourism. Therefore, we propose that the development of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island should accommodate surrounding communities through community-based wildlife ecotourism. We also recommend the following strategies to develop orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island: (1) mapping the location and distribution of wild orangutans in their natural habitats; (2) managing captive and semi-captive orangutans in conservation centers; (3) provision of tour packages; (4) community empowerment; (5) institutional strengthening of community-based ecotourism management (CBEM); (6) developing ecotourism through a benefit-sharing model; (7) anticipating and minimizing the negative impacts of ecotourism on orangutans; and (8) integrating orangutan tourism with local wisdom.

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Is ecotourism an outdated solution to orangutan conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo?

Cited by 2 publications

References 41 publications

Abundance, Distribution, and Characterization of Microplastics on Two Recreational Beaches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Abundance, Distribution, and Characterization of Microplastics on Two Recreational Beaches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Orangutan Ecotourism on Sumatra Island: Current Conditions and a Call for Further Development

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