Be it exploring something new or to re-learn our history, the documentaries brought by National Geographic have drawn Lukmann Haqeem orang utan devotee to be part of the conservation world. Working as senior field biologist in WWF–Malaysia under the Sarawak Conservation Programme, Lukmann reminisced, “The show instils the desire to explore nature in me. I have always liked the idea of becoming a pioneer and taking human civilisation to a new level.” When he was in secondary school, he developed an interest in Biology. During his final year of high school, he won the overall best student for the subject. This propelled Lukmann to pursue his studies in Ecology and Biodiversity at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. “I figured that I will do something that I’m good at and passionate about at the same time. Becoming a field biologist is like a dream come true as it incorporates both exploring nature and my love for biology,” said the 29-year old conservationist. Lukmann, who is fondly known as Bob, now spends most of his time researching wild animals, especially orang utans. He began developing an interest in working with orang utans after watching several documentaries on the charismatic species. “Although orang utans are popular animals, not much is known about them. I decided to study them because I wanted to find out the answers myself.” He also mentioned that the orang utan has the slowest breeding rate of any primate and is one of the most slow-breeding mammals. The interval between one birth to the next can be as little as three years or as long as eight years. “That is why it is important to conserve them. There is no certainty on when the next generation will be born. The death of an orang utan is always a big loss to their community,” he adds. He usually spends about two and a half months to complete a survey on orang utan nests. Within that period, he will conduct three sets of field surveys, about two to three weeks for each survey with short breaks in between. Like any other field biologist, Bob also faces many challenges. In Sarawak, the orang utan lives in rugged terrains and so Bob has to hike up and down several mountains before reaching any orang utan habitat. Besides that, he also needs to carry his own supplies into the jungle which can weigh more than 20kg. “Another challenge will be with the orang utans themselves. They are elusive and very hard to detect. orang utans are known to hide themselves among the canopy when they sense potential danger. Sometimes it takes me weeks before actually seeing one.” Currently, Bob is assisting in a new transboundary green economy project area in the Heart of Borneo (HoB), funded under the International Climate Initiative (IKI), Federal Ministry for the Environment Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany. This two-million hectare site stretches from central Sarawak, Malaysia to northern West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The project site in Sarawak includes two important orang utan areas which are also biologically rich – Batang Ai National Park and Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. One of Bob’s tasks is to investigate species presence within the HoB landscape, and to advocate for the conservation of areas where they are found so that they can have the opportunity to thrive. “Both sites are where most orang utans in Sarawak live. Although they live in protected areas, they don’t know what a boundary is. There are always possibilities that they will travel outside the protected areas and into the hands of hunters and poachers,” he explains. Currently there are about 1,600 orang utans left in Sarawak. This figure is nothing compared to 11,000 orang utans found in neighbouring state of Sabah. Bob hopes that his efforts, along with that of other experts and stakeholders, will help the orang utan population in Sarawak continue to thrive for posterity. In Sarawak, some communities, like the Ibans, have a cultural connection with orang utans. The orang utan is revered by them as they believe that humans either are descended from the orang utans, or they turned into orang utans when they die. It is also a taboo to kill orang utans according to the Iban native law. “The people in Batang Ai still practice this cultural connection and hence orang utans are able to survive there. However, this connection has diminished in other places and orang utans have been wiped out as a result of habitat destruction and illegal killing.” “I hope our conservation efforts will help people to re-establish their culture and connection with orang utans. With the taboo in place, orang utan populations will hopefully recover naturally and they can live harmoniously with these communities,” he said. The orang utan is Asia’s only great ape and is found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Malaysia, the orang utan sub-species, Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, occurs in Sarawak and West Kalimantan; and Pongo pygmaeus morio occurs in Sabah and East Kalimantan. In Sarawak, most orang utans occur mainly in protected areas, but incidental poaching cannot be totally ruled out due to lack of management presence in many of the orang utans’ habitats and protected areas. The orang utan is classified as Totally Protected under the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance (1998).

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Tanjung Puting National Park was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977. Tanjung Puting National Park has several ecosystems as it consists of lowland tropical rainforest, dry land, forests, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forests, coastal forests and secondary forests. This area is mainly dominated by lowland forest plants like Gelatin (Dyera costulata), Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), Meranti (Shorea sp.), Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.), and Rattan. Endangered endemic species contained in Tanjung Puting National Park include orangutan (Pongo Satyrus), proboscis monkey (Nasalis Larvatus), maroon leaf monkey (Presbytis rubicunda rubida), bears (Helarctos malayanus erysipelas), deers (Tragulus javanicus close), clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), and cats (Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis), all protected. Tanjung Puting National Park is the first location in Indonesia designated as an orangutan rehabilitation center. There are three more locations: Tanjung Harapan, Pondok Tanggui, and Camp Leakey. Bornean orangutan has a dark reddish fur and tail. As they grow older, adult males develop big cheek pads that give their face a sinister look. THE TOUR DAY 01, Airport-Kumai-Tanjung Puting Arrival at Pangkalan Bun Airport, meeting with tour assistants and driving to Kumai by taxi (25 minutes), passing several villages. Upon arrival in Kumai, we board the boat and slowly sail up to Tanjung Puting National Park to explore the Sekonyer river by klotok (a traditional wooden boat), observing wildlife such as Proboscis monkeys (long nose monkeys), long tail monkeys, birds along the river sides. Dinner, sleeping on the boat. The boat is a traditional wooden river boat about 14m long by 2m wide with roofed upper deck where you can sit and observe the rainforest. The guides team includes boatmen, cook and a tourist guide. On the boat, you will be provided with a simple mattress, a pillow, a mosquito net, meals, mineral water. Toilet on board. DAY 02, Tanjung Puting-Pondok Tanggui-Camp Leakey-Nipa Area After an early breakfast, you get boated up to Pondok Tanggui Camp to witness orangutan feeding at 9am. Upon arrival at Pondok Tanggui, we walk to the feeding area. After the orangutan feeding session, we take a short trekking in the forest, then proceed to Camp Leakey (about 1,5–2 hours boating time). After a lunch on the boat, you have the opportunity to take a short trek, or you can chose to visit the information center before watch orangutan feeding again at 2 pm. After visiting Camp Leakey, we slowly boat down to Nipa Palm Area (house of fireflies). On the way down can still observe monkeys, birds and other animals, and in the evening if the weather is good we can witness lots of fireflies along nipa palms. Dinner and night on the boat. DAY 03, Nipa Area-Kumai-Pangkalan Bun Airport After breakfast, we sail down to Kumai and then transfer you by car to Pangkalan Bun Airport for your final destination. If you have extra time we can offer you a City Tour, or you can chose to stay longer in Tanjung Puting National Park (depending on your flight schedule). The tour price includes: guides, boat, ranger fee, meals, soft drinks and other snacks, entrance permit to Tanjung Putting. The tour priceexcludes: personal expenses, ticket flights, tipping to guide. To be remembered: this tour starts in Pangkalan Bun, if tourist needs to be picked up in Palangkaraya-Palangkalan Bun, additional charges may apply. If the quota is less than 5 people, additional charges may apply, as specified in the price list. More info and bookings with Central Borneo Guide on http://centralborneoguide.com/package/borneo-orangutan-tanjungputing/

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