Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - A total 46 special interest tourists from various countries, including Australia, Switzerland, and United States, who boarded Coral Geographer cruise ship, visited Bekantan Research Station on Curiak Island, South Kalimantan.
They came to see the natural sanctuary of Bekantan (Nasalis larvatus) or proboscis monkey, which is managed by Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI) foundation.
They were received by Dr. Amalia Rezeki, founder of SBI foundation, together with her crews, at the Bekantan Research Station, which is also a destination for Site 8 of the Meratus Geopark west route.
She said she was very happy that the research area in Curiak Island was visited by special interest tourists, who care about environment and wildlife.
“They are very interested and appreciated the story telling about our struggle in efforts to preserve bekantan (proboscis monkey) and restore the wetland ecosystem in Curiak Island," said Amel, nickname of the Biology lecturer at the University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM).
Oswald Huma, Executive Director at Signature Papua Tours and Travel, who accompanied Coral Geographer passengers, acknowledged that he was impressed with the Curiak Island management, also story telling about the history of the NGO SBI efforts in saving bekantan and restoring its ecosystem.
This is one of the attraction for special interest tourists who visited.
"As a tours and travel person , I am very very interested in making this area a sustainable special interest tour destination," he said.
Meanwhile, a senior orangutan researcher Dr. Gary L. Shapiro, President and Co-Founder Orangutan Republic Foundation, an American citizen, who speaks Indonesian quite fluently, said he was very happy to be able to meet the people who work here with such strong enthusiasm.
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"I hope many people will come and support this foundation, and have the same vision," he said.
Dr. Gary L. Shapiro is a leading expert in orangutan conservation with a more than 50 years of experience.
His pioneering job in Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan, from 1978 to 1981, including teaching sign language to orangutan after they had been rehabilitated in their natural habitat.
While Anne, guest lecture from Coral Expedition, said she was very impressed with her visit to the proboscis moneky research station and she really regretted that the time was too short.
“I think this place is wonderful, it's really inspirational what has been done in a really short time," she said.
Amel invited the tourist visiting Pulau Curiak to walk on the ironwook footbridge track around the rambai mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris) restoration area, while observing the behavior of bekantan, as well as other typical wetland wildlife.
Then visited the green house mangrove tree nursery, and were invited to participate in planting mangroves.
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