Marabahan, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The management of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I in South Kalimantan planted a hundred of rambai mangrove (Sonneratia Caseolaris) on Curiak Island, which is the habitat of bekantan (proboscis monkey), a mascot of South Kalimantan's fauna.
The planting of rambai mangrove is hoped to contribute to the survival of the bekantans, which are threatened with extinction due to land conversion.
"We chose rambai seedlings to plant on the island, because this plant variety is the main food for proboscis monkeys," said General Manager of Syamsudin Noor International Airport Dony Subardono here, Tuesday.
On that occasion, Dony also handed over the company's social responsibility assistance worth IDR50 million.
Related news: Curiak Island now with ecolodge to support proboscis monkey tourism
The assistance is planned to be used to build an education spot on Curiak Island, which is an ecotourism area managed by Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI) Foundation.
Dony said that bekantan as a Kalimantan endemic animal must be preserved and one of the Angkasa Pura I's real concern is participating in the development of Curiak Island as a research center for bekantan, monkeys with big nose and reddish brown hair.
SBI Chair Amalia Rezeki expressed her thanks and appreciation Angkasa Pura I's concern for continuing to support proboscis monkey conservation efforts on Curiak Island.
"Today is special, because the arrival of Mr Dony and the team is coincided with the presence of 16 students from Newcastle University, Australia, in the summer course program to jointly plant mangrove on Curiak Island," she said.
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