Orion Expedition adopts Ritchie for two years

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FOR RITCHIE: Landong (second left) receives a mock cheque from Bratton. At left is Orion Expedition team leader Michael Fogg. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapha

KUCHING: Ritchie, a dominant male orangutan, has been adopted by Australia’s Orion Expedition Cruises for two years until Oct 2013.

The founder and managing director of Orion Expedition Cruise Pty Ltd, Sarina Bratton, said the company was pleased to adopt Ritchie which she described as a ‘world heritage’.

“We are going to adopt him for the next two years and after that we pledge to sponsor him for another 10 years,” she said.

She presented a cheque for AU$7,750 for the two-year adoption programme to Sarawak Forestry Corporation general manager (Protected Area and Biodiversity Conservation) Wilfred Landong at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre near here yesterday. On the centre, Bratton said she was amazed
with she saw there and about the wildlife conservation programme.

“It’s great to see how the centre operates and I congratulate Sarawak and Malaysian governments for doing a splendid job in the conservation of orangutans,” she added.

She said that apart from Borneo and Sarawak in particular, Orion Expedition also works with various NGOs across the globe to conserve endangered species to ensure their survival and protection.

“Borneo Island has created the best opportunity for us to continue giving aid and educate the people about the importance of conserving the primates for an ecological balance.”

She said she would spread the good news when she returned to Australia and help to look for more assistance for Ritchie and the rest of the primates.

Landong said that there were about 2,500 orangutans in the state and the number was growing due to, in parts, the government’s serious concern on its rehabilitation programme.

He said that the Orangutan Adoption programme, which was launched in Nov 2009 by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, had received about RM500,000 in sponsorship from local and foreign enterprises.

“The conservation programme is an expensive business. It involves paying for food, supplements and medication for orangutan if it is injured. Each animal needs between RM1,000 and RM1,500 a month,” he said.

Despite the (huge) cost, Landong was confident that the conservation and rehabilitation of orangutan was here to stay, adding that this year alone two orangutans had been adopted.

“Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is home to 25 orangutans while 24 others (younger ones) are at Matang Wildlife centre. When they have matured they would be relocated here (Semenggoh),” Landong said.