‘Re-WILD Together with The Langurs’ is a collaborative campaign initiated by Yuen Hwei and Insyirah, two final year students from School of Biological Sciences, USM Penang, to help Langur Project Penang (LPP) in their existing works with the Dusky Langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus). It is intended to lend support to LPP in getting the resources needed in the conservation of Dusky Langurs. 

Our goal: The main goal of this campaign is to raise funds to help the people of LPP in continuing their research, conservation works, and environmental education in their local community. We also want to engage with and give back to the public in the process of ‘rewilding’ with nature. 

Why ‘rewild’? 

Rewilding is a progressive effort of restoring the natural habitat so that it regains the ability to sustain a wide range of wildlife. Just like our ecosystem, we should rewild ourselves as well. 

Most people who stay in urban environments tend to get disconnected from nature. We are often unaware of the environmental changes surrounding us. Also, we share the same neighborhood with Dusky Langurs, but have we checked on their wellbeing? They are suffering habitat loss due to rampant deforestation and urbanization caused by human development! 

To help them, it is necessary for us to be aware and conscious about our environment. Reconnect with nature, and rewild yourself along for the Dusky Langurs for OUR wellbeing, together!

 

So, what inspired us to help LPP?

Let’s hear about our ‘rewilding’ experience:

Yuen Hwei: I am a final year student from School of Biological Sciences, USM, majoring in Environmental Biology. Choosing Environmental Biology as my undergraduate specialization is truly a life-changing event for me. I grew up in Ipoh, which is an urban area in Perak. I was so separated from our mother nature and I paid least concern to the environment or wildlife in the past. After deciding to choose my specialization to be an Environmental Biology student, I have a lot of chances to be closer to mother nature by going on field trips and becoming a committee for educational and awareness programmes in CEMACS, USM. Thus, with all the current anthropogenic challenges that the natural environment is facing, I feel the need to do something, and I wish to do more for wildlife in the future.

In my opinion, education is the key to raising awareness regarding our environmental issues as well as wildlife welfare. I got to know LPP during an educational talk presented by Jo Leen in 2017. I was so amazed by all the efforts Jo Leen and her team have made, and I wish more people could be more understanding towards Dusky Langurs, which is now listed as ‘Near Threatened’ in the IUCN Red List. Thus, we chose to help LPP for our fundraising campaign as LPP has done a lot of conservation works, research and public awareness activities for the Dusky Langurs in various creative ways. They never stop to provide education to the public, especially our younger generations. They act as a bridge to help people connect with nature. This matches our campaign’s concept, to bring people to reconnect and rewild together with our mother nature. Thanks to lecturers of BST404 Wildlife Ecology and Management, and LPP, for providing me the opportunity to be a part of this fundraising campaign, so we can help out Dusky Langurs and the environment. We took too much from our mother nature for our own sake, and it’s time to give back now.

 

Insyirah: Just like Yuen Hwei, I am a final year student taking Environmental Biology as my major. My favorite subject is Biology, but eventually I fell out of interest and decided to become a food technologist. However, my application to pursue that course was rejected and I got an offer for a Degree in Pure Biology instead.

At first, I thought that venturing into the forest is not my thing. Rather than being on field work, I preferred to be in the lab. It was not until my second year that I realized there is something missing in my studies, my passion. I do not feel passionate about doing any lab work at all. Instead, I really enjoy being out there in nature. 

That particular year, I went on many field trips that helped me to reconnect with nature. It is not easy to get internet connections in a remote area. However, it really helped me because sometimes, what you need is to be ‘disconnected’ to get reconnected with nature. 

I also attended several talks endorsed by NGOs that are really passionate in doing their conservation works. Seeing how engrossed they are in their respective works made me question myself about my own passion. And of course, I also attended a sharing session by LPP regarding their works on the conservation of Dusky Langurs. All the experiences really enlightened me and rekindled my interest in environmental studies. Therefore, I had to change my degree to pursue my passion. But I do not care, it is totally worth it.  

Realizing how a simple sharing session can encourage someone to pursue their passion, I feel obliged to help LPP to continue their educational outreach in any possible way. Besides, they also need extra support to continue their conservation efforts for Dusky Langurs in this difficult time. This is why my partner and I chose to initiate a fundraising campaign for LPP. 

 

About LPP

Founded in January 2016, the Langur Project Penang (LPP) is an outreach research and conservation project under the umbrella of the Malaysian Primatology Society (MPS) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). LPP studies the ecology, road ecology and behaviour of the Dusky Langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus).

In collaboration with governmental bodies, educational institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) in Malaysia, LPP serves as a platform for environmental research and education for students and the local community. 

LPP is looking to amplify its voice for the Dusky Langurs by preserving Dusky Langurs’ natural habitat, continuing to battle the illegal wildlife trade, and by keeping as a crucial platform for research and outreach programmes in Penang.

 

Everything Started From A Story....

“

Hi everyone, I am Hee Bang, which means ‘Hope’ in Hokkien language. I am a cute little Dusky Leaf Monkey living happily with Papa, Mama and other family members in the forest. We live and spend 90% of time on the trees daily.

My mama takes good care of me, teaches me what to eat, what not to eat, and to be a brave langur. My favourite activity of the day is to follow Papa and my 17 family members looking for food. He teaches us to recognise our natural predators and beware of humans. My brother is a brave guy, he chases away snakes to protect us. My sister is kind, she rescues humans from being bitten by snakes.

I love to eat leaves, fruits or seeds and I’m proud to be the ‘forest farmer’, as we langurs disperse seeds and play an important role in forest regeneration.

However....

Deforestation occurred drastically; our beloved home has been jeopardized to fulfil human needs, my home is badly fragmented.

My Mama has to carry me to move from one part to another part of the forest by crossing highway roads, we did walk on the dangerous cable to travel too. My brother died on roadkill, and some of my family members were being caught, illegally traded and sold online.

We love our home, we do not harm humans, we are good to nature, but why?

I'm glad to meet LPP. They help in raising public awareness about Langurs, create canopy bridges for us to travel between parts of forest and continue to amplify their voices for the Dusky Langurs. Could you spare a minute to help LPP, for me and my family? 

"

 

Get to know the Dusky Langurs:

My scientific name is Trachypithecus obscurus. However, I am known as Dusky Langurs or Lutong/Lotong by the locals. 

As an arboreal primate, I feed on leaves, flowers and young shoots. I also eat fruits and help to disperse the seeds in the forest and urban environment.

Cute, furry, wear spectacles? - That is me. Some people described me as ‘spectacled langur’ due to my distinctive large, white colored patches surrounding the eyes that look like eyeglasses.

You may find me lurking in trees after I finish eating all the scrumptious foods. 

According to the IUCN Red List, I am listed as ‘Near-Threatened’. Our population in the wild has been declining. 

Interesting facts about me:

• I am a very social primate. I live in a group consisting of father, mother and siblings - just like you! 

• I am an arboreal primate- I feed, play and rest on trees. Therefore, the forest is my home!

• I am born with a very bright coat, typically orange or bright yellow that will gradually turn to grey.

• Just like human infants, I am very playful, mischievous and curious. 

• We stay with our mother and are taken care of for up to 2 years!

• Just like humans, I have well-developed fingers and opposable thumbs.

• One is not enough. I have four-chambered stomachs like cows that enable me to digest cellulose in plants.

 

Why do Dusky Langurs need our support?

Dusky Langurs have been living in close proximity to us while maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. They play a role as an essential seed disperser that is crucial in forest regeneration. Urbanization leads to habitat loss and fragmentation becoming more common. As a result, they had to roam in urban areas to find food. This makes them susceptible to problems such as roadkills, poaching and human-primate conflicts. Human intervention such as food handout to the langurs can induce behavioural changes that may result in human-primate conflicts. Eating human food can also cause serious health issues to them. 

Malaysians have shown a lack of understanding about the consequences of their actions to the survival of Dusky Langurs. Besides, Malaysians are also ignorant of the role of primates in our forest ecosystem, and the importance of coexisting with primates. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and educate people about Dusky Langurs. They are our natural heritage, and they need the utmost support from us. Give them something to lean on, and lend us your hand to extend support for them. Rewild together with the Dusky Langurs and our environment.

 

What can you do to help?

We welcome any form of support that you are interested to provide:

Donate to this campaign

Or

Volunteer with Langur Project Penang in their upcoming research and conservation activities by emailing your interest to [email protected]

 

What will the fund be used for?

• Sustaining Our Research and Conservation on the Langurs 

LPP is currently in need of funding to continue ongoing research and studies on the vulnerable Dusky Langurs. LPP has been monitoring the langurs’ activity pattern, habitat use, diet, population survey of dusky langurs in various study sites in Penang such as Teluk Bahang, Penang Botanical Gardens, Cherok Tokun and more. LPP team is looking forward to extending the behaviour research to more locations throughout Northern Peninsular Malaysia. The knowledge can help to better conservation planning that foster coexistence between humans and the Dusky Langurs.

However, more funding is needed because expansion of study sites to a larger area in Penang requires additional expenses in terms of manpower, equipment, transportation and meals. Any amount of donation towards LPP, or volunteer as a citizen field assistant will be tremendously helpful!

On-going field research and habituation of Dusky Langurs are needed for long-term conservation planning.

• Expansion and Maintenance of Urban Canopy Bridge Project

LPP had successfully constructed the first urban setting firehose canopy bridge in Malaysia in February 2019. The LPP canopy bridge effort was featured in the BBC Earth series, ‘Primates’. Your donation will help LPP to expand this project to various parts of Penang and Peninsular Malaysia in the effort to mitigate the negative impacts of wildlife crossing has on the drivers and the animals. 

First Urban Canopy Bridge in Malaysia with three charismatic species of Penang utilizing the bridge: dusky langur, long-tailed macaques & plantain squirrel

 

The first urban firehose canopy bridge funded by Disney Conservation Fund, #DisneyAnimals and The Rufford Foundation

For further info about our urban canopy bridge progress, please follow our album at: https://tinyurl.com/rrylxkm

 

• More Educational Outreach 

LPP is actively involved in community nature education targeting local residents where they translate their scientific findings to knowledge. The received funding can help them to organize more educational and public engagement programmes to educate our future generation. There were many successful educational programmes hosted by LPP before. This includes  easily accessible videos/Vlogs on social media as well as interactive live nature education (road shows, talks, events, workshops). There are also educational materials currently developed by LPP such as children picture book, family activity book, langur video series and boardgame.

 

With your generosity, LPP may have more chances to sustain their education to the public and future generation.

 

Photo of Jo Leen (head of Langur Project Penang) provides nature education to the children and local community during langur and rainforest learning activity in recreational parks and forest. 

The fun and educational langur and rainforest learning trips at Penang Botanical Gardens enable the public to learn about dusky langurs and the importance of a healthy ecological cycle. 

 

What Can You Get by Helping us?

Grab the chance to rewild yourself together with the Dusky Langurs! You can get to:

1) Follow us to the field!

(For donation above RM200)

Stand a chance to win a private langur watching or hiking experience with LPP team (terms & conditions apply)

*based in Penang only

*scheduling is needed

*selected kind donors will be contacted through email.

 

2) Become the guardians of the langurs!

(For donation above RM100)

Adopt a Dusky Langurs virtually. LPP team will email a list and photos of Dusky Langurs that you can choose to adopt from (Dusky Langurs that are open for virtual adoption will come from individuals in LPP’s study group).

Updates: Two photos and short updates of your virtually adopted Dusky Langurs will be emailed every month, consecutively for 6 months - starting from August 2020.

 

3) Exclusively for you- private sharing sessions from LPP team

(For donation above RM50)

You will be invited to an exclusive webinar with LPP in August, where the team will be sharing documentaries of Dusky Langurs, field footages and experience by LPP members. The access will be given exclusively for our precious donors only.

 

For More Infos:

Langur Project Penang (https://www.facebook.com/LangurProjectPenang/), also can be found on Instagram (@langurprojectpenang) & Twitter (@LangurPenang).

Langur Project Penang @TEDx: http://www.tedxpetalingstreet.com/en/portfolio-item/jo-leen-yap/

BBC Earth series #Primates featured Langur Project Penang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8_RneaViY

Jo Leen, the head of Langur Project Penang, as one of NAAEE 30under30 Environmental Education Honorees 2018:

https://naaee.org/about-us/people/jo-leen-yap

The Rufford Foundation 1st Rufford Small Grant (RSG):

http://www.rufford.org/projects/jo_leen_yap

The Rufford Foundation 2nd Rufford Small Grant (RSG):

https://www.rufford.org/projects/jo_leen_yap_0

Manulife #StartNow Challenge 2017:

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/03/20/pitching-their-dreams-to-start-now-four-malaysians-with-projects-to-inspire-and-educate-people-win-c/

Disney Conservation Grant 2018 (Malaysian Primatological Society):

https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-DCF-Funded-Projects.pdf

Covid-19 Pandemic does not only affect our livelihood. The pandemic also has some indirect impacts towards wild animals like Dusky Langurs. It is expected that the post-pandemic situation will compromise the research and conservation efforts towards Dusky Langurs due to underfunding.

Acknowledging this issue, we seek out Langur Project Penang (LPP) to aid in fundraising for their works.