If there's one thing that every animal or wildlife lover knows, is that the wildlife belong in their natural habitat, regardless whether they are endangered or not. But even if you aren't one, it's a given that wildlife everywhere deserve to live a safe and peaceful life. Here at Sukau Rainforest Lodge, we're grateful that we have a wonderful team who is aware of this and will do whatever they can to protect the wildlife that we have here.

Just last week, our maintenance guy, Muslimin or more fondly known as Mus, did the noble thing of rescuing a pangolin from the clutches of people who captured the poor creature who tried to sell it to interested buyers for Rm300 in Lahad Datu. Mus had threatened the sellers with the law and explained to them that the pangolin is an endangered wildlife . The pangolin is totally protected in Sabah, as well as under international laws, where two of eight pangolin species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The pangolin joins the rank of the pygmy elephants, orangutans and many other iconic species as protected wildlife here in Sabah. Being totally protected means that these wildlife are forbidden to be hunted, consumed or sold for their parts.

The rescued pangolin

Since it was late in the night, and calling and waiting for the authorities would take too much time, Mus decided to negotiate with the sellers so that they wouldn't walk away freely with the Pangolin in their captivity. With a little price, they were willing to handover the pangolin to Mus for RM100, which Mus willingly paid. Even if that's the case, at least Mus was able to share some awareness about endangered wildlife to the sellers and managed to save the poor pangolin from further danger by taking it back to Sukau.

Last Saturday, we had a releasing ceremony for the pangolin and many of our guests at that time had the chance to witness the joyous occasion. It was indeed a beautiful sight. Before the releasing of the pangolin, our guide Jonathan had briefed the guests about the pangolin and to make sure to keep a safe distance from it as to not scare or stress the animal. One of our guest, Tania Parker volunteered to help release the pangolin. One of the touching moments of this occasion is when the pangolin went over to Tania as if to say thank you and goodbye, before it scurrying off into the rainforest, towards its freedom.

This pangolin is actually the second one we have released so far. The first one was released some time end of last year.

Pangolins have been facing a serious threat for the past several years and is known as one of the most trafficked wildlife in the world. The species is even said to be "eaten to extinction" in some parts of the world where people believe that its meat and scales have magical healing properties.

These creatures are very important in the ecosystem as they are nature's 'pest controllers' as termites are on the list of a pangolin's menu. Pangolins actually keep the forest healthy by controlling the termite population and keeping trees alive.

KOTA KINABALU: Carol Patterson, coauthor of the book "Saving Paradise: The Story of Sukau Rainforest Lodge", believes the book will be of interest to those in the tourism industry or similar situation as the lodge's founder and her coauthor, Albert Teo.

I think this is because the story of Sukau Lodge is a good one and that it talks about how eco?tourism can help to show a community as well as how it can make money from sustainable sized tourism," Patterson said.

The proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants are unique species and that gives Sukau an advantage over other communities that may not have that kind of diversity, she said after the book is launching yesterday.

"The reason I got involved and I like the book is because it talks about some of the lessons that Albert has learnt in its 10 years history," she said, adding that it also deals with successes and failures.

"It is not a perfect story (as) Sukau has a lot of challenges and there are still lots of things that have to be dealt with," Patterson pointed out.

"But it is no different from other communities which struggles with the same issues."

The book chronicles the story of Albert's work to build and operate Sukau Rainforest Lodge and it includes many of his photographs of the wildlife found in the area.

Patterson also included the lodge visitors' comments in the book as they inspired her, she said, adding: "I like to read the visitors' comments...to see how a visit to Kinabatangan changes a person and how enthusiastic they are even after a brief encounter of just two or three days. "

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said Sukau Rainforest Lodge was developed as a model eco?lodge in line with the State Government's ecotourism objectives and with WWF Partners for Wetlands Vision for Ecotourism objectives in the Lower Kinabatangan floodplains.

"It adopted an integrated and proactive approach to encourage the preservation of habitat and biodiversity and sustainable use of resources through education and creating awareness among visitors, staff and the local community on conservation," he said in a speech read by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Karim Bujang.

At the same time, Chong said that through best practices, the lodge showed efforts to minimize consumption, waste and pollution as well as ensuring that local communities also derive benefits from the development.

The efforts and achievements of Sukau Rainforest Lodge have helped the Kinabatangan Region earn an international reputation as a premier ecotourism icon, he said, adding: "I have no doubt that this publication will further enhance the Kinabatangan Region as a world class ecotourism product."

Source : The Borneo Post 14th April 2005