PENAMPANG: Sabah renewed its call for stronger public support to protect endangered wildlife as the state marked International Gibbon Day 2025 at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park on Saturday.
The event, themed “Gibbons Unbound: Combating the Primate Pet Trade,” was jointly organised by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS) to raise awareness of illegal wildlife trafficking and the primate pet trade.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry's (Kepkas) Deputy Permanent Secretary Mary Isidore Malangking said that safeguarding Sabah’s natural heritage requires the shared responsibility of all citizens.
SWD Director Soffian Abu Bakar said the state remains committed to protecting endangered primates through research, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts, including its collaboration with GCS in Kota Belud, where 13 gibbons are being rehabilitated.
More than 100 participants from schools, universities, NGOs, and the public attended the event, reflecting a growing awareness of Sabah’s wildlife conservation efforts.
