MWC welcomes new-born orangutan named Triton
LUNDU: The Matang Wildlife Centre ( MWC) here welcomed a baby orangutan at about 10am last Sunday.
The newborn was named Triton following an adoption announced by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia ( MMM) after handing over a Mitsubishi Triton pick- up truck to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) at MWC here yesterday.
Chief executive officer of SFC Wong Ting Chung said the newborn was delivered by a 12-year- old orangutan named Tingsan.
“This newly- born baby orangutan is male, and is currently in the good care of its mother,” he said before receiving the Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 pick-up truck from MMM chief executive officer Tomoyuki Shinnishi during a simple ceremony.
During a tour at MWC, only Shinnishi and Wong paid a visit to the new- born orangutan.
Meanwhile, Wong disclosed that 30 orangutans have been rehabilitated at MWC of which six were born at the centre.
“We hope that more organisations would offer similar support and help in our conservation works not only in MWC but at other TPAs ( Totally Protected Areas) in Sarawak as well,” he said while thanking MMM.
MWC manager Siali Aban described the adoption as significant and historic.
He revealed that the baby orangutan was born the day before MMM handed over the pick-up truck.
He said that it also marked the first time the centre received such a major sponsorship.
“We have been given signages and others by schools and some individuals. An exceptional gift like this is very significant to us.”
An organisation or individual pledging for the adoption programme will contribute RM10,000 over a period of one year.
The ‘adopter’ will be given a quarterly report on the ‘adoptee’.