Just in 2019, Sabah received over 4 million visitors, 1 million of those were international visitors, but how many of them know about the wildlife living in Sabah?
Since 2018 DGFC started a programme in collaboration with Malaysian Airports and the Sabah Wildlife Department to increase awareness in the tourists and the local public to the plights of endangered wildlife in Sabah, for example pangolins, sun bears, proboscis monkeys, elephants and other species. Other collaborators are the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center and Future Alam Borneo.
Sculptures made by local artists using recycled items, and box posters provide the visitors with information on the species but also remind them that possession and consumption of protected animals and wildlife trade is illegal, and they will face prosecution.
Currently there is a pangolin sculpture (made by Japson Wong) at the arrival gate of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and a sun bear sculpture at the departure gate of the Sandakan airport. These sculptures will be on rotation at other airports in Sabah. Other sculptures are coming to the Tawau and Lahad Datu airports soon.
Stay tuned and if you visit any of these airports, get a selfie by the sculpture and share it on your social media. Don’t forget to tag DGFC!
