Little Cozy Corner

This post is very special because I feel that the new year should start off with me doing something good in the hope that this act will help ensure a good and productive year ahead. But that is not the main reason why I’m doing this post. I love animals and it breaks my heart to see how we are slowly killing off all those precious animals that God has given us by our ignorance and neglect for nature. I have a soft spot for orang utans simply because they are so human-like that many describe them as one of ‘man’s closest relative’, the others include the chimps and gorillas.

In conjunction with a special campaign happening at Malaysia Travel Guide called Protect Malaysia Wildlife : Don’t let them be history, I thought that I’d write a little something about these cuddly creatures.

These lovely creatures are being classified as ‘critically endangered’ and it’s so sad because it is due to us, humans, that they have become this way. Our constant logging and agricultural industries which seem to be booming due to societies demand have caused a drastic decline in the numbers of orang utans in our forests. On top of the logging and the booming palm oil industry, there are also illegal poachers who are always on the lookout for infants particularly for live-animal trading and sometimes, kept as pets. This, although may sound ok to you, it is illegal! Normally, the mother is killed off and these babies who cling to their mothers since birth for about 2 years are practically torn away from the carcass - it is really a very painful sight. Studies show that if these creatures are not protected and their habitat continues to be stripped away, they will be extinct in about 10 years or less. What a scary thought!

Have you seen these animals in the wild? I have. Well, not the orang utans but the proboscis monkeys. It was such a beautiful experience that happened in Kuching when Ted and I had a chance to see proboscis monkeys roaming free in a rehabilitation centre. Although it’s still not as free as free can be, sad to say, it’s as good as it can get. I still haven’t had the chance to visit the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab centre yet but it’s definitely on my list. Truth be known, I just don’t know how to word it but to put it simply - on one hand we are destroying their habitat to feed the demands but at the same time, we are going out of our way to save the animals…I mean, so contradicting right? If it’s causing more harm than good by not only stripping the land of it’s resources and inhabitants, but also causing loss for the future generation, why are we giving in the way we are? Does that make any sense at all??

Anyway, if you think that because you are only one person and how much can one person do, think again. By helping to spread the word about awareness on the conservation of these beautiful animals, it’s a good start. If you’re hands-on person like I am, get involved with rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries and volunteer. That way, money that would be spent on paying you would be spent on the animals instead. It’s been one of my dreams to visit Sepilok but so far, it hasn’t come true. The Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is located near Sandakan, in Malaysian Borneo. This centre was set up as a means of housing injured or orphaned Orang-Utans, caring for them and nursing them back to health before they can be released into the forest. Many Orang-Utans that end up here have strayed into logging camps or been rescued from captivity. Many are orphaned babies that cannot survive in the forest alone.

But if getting your hands dirty is not your thing then the next best thing would be to donate. There are already many organisations out there who are in the midst of raising awareness and much needed funding for rehabilitation projects so that’s a good sign. But in order for these organisation to function properly, funds are needed so donate if you can. However I know how some people feel about money. Donations can be a very tricky and sensitive thing and these people might feel that by just giving, it’s not justified. Trust me, there are people like that out there, so if you feel that way then purchase stuff which are produced to help the fund ie calendars, posters which are produced by the organisation. And another thing, please don’t ever encourage live animal trade. I bet you wouldn’t be too happy if someone were to kill you just to grab your baby and sell em’ off as a plaything now, would you?

So you see, being aware of conservation is a good start, the next step is taking action. If we don’t save our animals, who will?

A poem by Gerard D’Cruz
A modern world of urbanisation
created jungles of concrete contortion.
Impersonal people infest these places,
a sea of nothing but indifferent faces.
People never have time to say,
“Hello, good morning, how are you today?”
Factories, mills, industrialisation
created skylines of smoke pollution.
Cancerous air that seem no harm
slowly killing mother nature’s charm.
Vanishing species that cry out in sorrow
“Save us for children of tomorrow.”

Automobiles and transportation
created junkyards of iron defecation.
Empty shells that once had utility
rusty reflections of man’s futility.
Struggling now to earn his bread,
but who remembers when he’s dead?