Malaysia Revises ‘Orangutan Diplomacy’ Plan: Apes to Stay at Home

AFP/APP

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is inviting countries that purchase its palm oil to adopt orangutans while keeping them in their natural habitat, according to local media reports. This change comes after a plan to send some orangutans abroad sparked backlash from conservationists.

Originally, Malaysia had proposed sending orangutans as diplomatic gifts to countries that buy its palm oil, mirroring China’s “panda diplomacy.” However, this idea faced criticism due to the critically endangered status of orangutans, as highlighted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The great apes have been severely affected by habitat loss caused by logging and agricultural expansion, particularly palm oil plantations.

On Sunday, Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani announced that adopted orangutans would remain in Malaysia. According to the official Bernama news agency, conservation efforts will focus on preserving forest areas or forest patches within oil palm plantations that hold high conservation value. These areas will allow orangutans to move freely, find food, and reproduce without human interference.

International buyers of Malaysian palm oil can sponsor one or more orangutans, with the funds supporting conservation programs. These programs will involve a team of experts and rangers who will monitor the safety and well-being of the animals.

Beijing’s panda diplomacy, which involves loaning pandas to foreign zoos under strict conditions and returning any offspring to China, has long been a tool of soft power. The new approach to orangutan diplomacy in Malaysia aims to combine conservation efforts with international collaboration.

Palm oil is a common ingredient in various products, including foods such as cakes and chocolate, as well as cosmetics, soap, and shampoo. Malaysia and Indonesia together account for the majority of global palm oil production.