Proboscis is part of Indonesia`s biodiversity that are recognized as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and cannot be traded internationally since 2010.Banjarmasin, S.Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Two teenaged twin sisters named Gabriella Thohir and Giovanna Thohir have started the Bekantan Twins Project, an environment preservation initiative intended to increase the population of proboscis monkeys, or locally called bekantan.
Ghivo Pratama, a volunteer, stated here on Wednesday that the project lays focus on planting Baccaurea motleyana trees and carrying out an education campaign to protect the monkeys.
He pointed out that not many people knew about the proboscis monkey, or Nasalis larvatus, a hairy, big-nosed golden yellow monkey, which is a typical endemic species found in Kalimantan.
Proboscis is part of Indonesias biodiversity that are recognized as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and cannot be traded internationally since 2010.
In 2008, only about 25 thousand proboscis monkeys were recorded in their native habitat, the Bakut Island Ecotourism Park, South Kalimantan.
The endangered species has inspired two teenagers, Gabriella Thohir and Giovanna Thohir, who study at the Global Jaya Jakarta High School, to start the Proboscis Monkey Twins Project.
They have started the project despite their busy student life.
The commitment shown by the twins is apparent after visiting and observing the monkey habitat in Adaro reclamation area that was a former mining forest in Paringin.
Ghivo remarked that there are several potential areas in Kalimantan that are ideal proboscis monkey habitat, such as the one in Bakut Island.
"If everybody starts seeking potential habitats for the monkeys and starts planting trees for providing them a habitat then I believe that we will be able to prevent them from extinction," he emphasized.
The first program of the Bekantan Twins Project was planting 500 Baccaurea motleyana trees that provide fruits for the monkeys.
The project has also involved all parties such as a non-profit organization Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia, South Kalimantans Natural Resources Conservation Office, University of Lambung Mangkurat, and the governor along with other communities.
The initiative to plant trees on Bakut Island is expected to inspire other teenagers to care and show concern for the environment and be actively involved in every effort to save the biodiversity, similar to what the twins have done to preserve the proboscis monkeys.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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