World Orangutan Day, 19 August

The restoration of Mount Wullersdorf 

The Tawau landscape is home to elephants, orangutans, helmeted hornbills, clouded leopards, and banteng. It encompasses over 4,000 square kilometers, including the Tawau Hills Park and the adjacent Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve as its centrepieces. However, more than 50% of this area is now covered by oil palm plantations. Together with WWF-Malaysia, we are collaborating with the Sabah Forestry Department and other local stakeholders to reduce forest degradation, protect vital habitats, and improve water catchment capacity for local communities. Our efforts include restoring 150 hectares of damaged and fragmented forest between the Mount Wullersdorf Forest Reserve and the main Tawau Hills area. So far, over 23,000 seedlings have been planted to establish an ecological corridor that will allow orangutans, elephants, and other wildlife to move more freely in search of food and mates.