Sultan Sharafuddin enjoys walk in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in light rain

KUCHING: The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah paid a visit to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to experience nature.

Clad in a casual stripped T-shirt and holding his own umbrella, the brief rain did not hinder the Sultan from taking a short hike into the forest to see the orang utans there.

After listening to a briefing on the Wildlife Centre and the habitat of the orang utans, the Sultan showed great interest in the orang utans, asking questions after questions about the primate and the centre.

Interestingly, just before his departure from the centre, he was greeted by Ritchie, a dominant male orang utan.

Earlier, he was informed how Sarawak was committed to Sustainable Forest Management to conserve its natural resources and increase acceptance of forest produce.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation deputy chairman Datuk Sudarsono Osman said with a rich biodiversity of over 8,000 plants, 185 species of mammals and 533 species of birds, Sarawak was in need of biodiversity conservation.

“Sarawak is also committed to managing and conserving its native wildlife population and natural resources while strategically aiming to balance and integrate them with the economic and development needs of the state,” said Sudarsono.

According to him, the state government has passed four key legislations pertaining to the protection and conservation of Sarawak’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

The state is currently aiming for seven Forest Management Units (FMU) to be certified and implemented by 2017, starting from Anap Muput area in Bintulu, which was certified by Malaysian Timber Certification Board last year.

Also contributing to the Sarawak’s long-term economic well being is its land-use policy, which includes provisions for sustainable forestry sector based on a targeted six million ha of permanent forest estate, an agricultural sector on three million ha of agro plantations and small holdings and one million ha protected areas.

“As of to-date, we have achieved more than 800,000 ha including 200,000 ha of water bodies,” said Sudarsono.

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is situated in Semenggoh Nature Reserve. Established in 1975, it cares for wild animals that are injured, orphaned or kept as illegal pets. It has an area of 653 ha and is home to 27 orang utans. The Star