Pertamina and Owa Jawa Foundation Collaborate to Save the Rare Primates of Gunung Puntang

• 24 Sep 2024
• mk.novian.kusmana

Bandung – The Wili family, comprising adult male Wili, adult female Sasa, and their teenage offspring Jatna, have been thriving in their natural habitat since their reintroduction in October 2017. This family of Javan gibbons (Hylobates moloch) is part of an ongoing conservation effort in the Malabar Protected Forest, Mount Puntang, South Bandung.

Since 2013, the Owa Jawa Foundation has successfully reintroduced a total of 42 Javan gibbons into their natural habitat. These efforts are closely monitored to ensure their successful adaptation and survival. The Program Manager of the Owa Jawa Foundation, veterinarian - Pristiani Nurantika, stated, "Monitoring is conducted manually by observing the gibbons from a safe distance of 15-20 meters to document their behaviour in the wild."

A recent monitoring event was attended by PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) officials, including Muharram Jaya Panguriseng, Director of Exploration at PHE, Arya Dwi Paramita, PHE Corporate Secretary, and other senior managers. This initiative underscores Pertamina's commitment to biodiversity conservation, marking a critical step in preserving the endangered Javan gibbon, listed on the IUCN Red List and CITES Appendix I.

In conjunction with National Nature Conservation Day, five more Javan gibbons were reintroduced to the Malabar Forest on August 10, 2024, bringing the total number of reintroduced individuals to 42. The conservation program is a testament to Pertamina's partnership with the Owa Jawa Foundation, implemented through Pertamina's Upstream Subholding PEP Subang Field.

“The conservation of the Javan gibbon is part of the biodiversity preservation program promoted by the Company,” remarked Muharram Jaya Panguriseng, during a visit to the Javan gibbons' natural habitat. He added that this program aligns with the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Point 15, which focuses on conserving terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

As part of the conservation efforts, Pertamina also facilitated the planting of tree seedlings, including avocado, Jamaican guava, monkey guava, rambutan, and melinjo, which contribute to the gibbons' habitat restoration.

Pertamina Hulu Energi provided additional support to the Owa Jawa Foundation, ensuring the sustainability of the Javan gibbon conservation program. With an estimated global population of only 2,000-4,000 individuals, the Javan gibbon is considered one of the rarest primates in the world, making this collaborative conservation effort crucial to their survival.

PHE’s dedication to sustainable practices and ESG principles extends beyond conservation. The company, a registered participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since June 2022, adheres to Zero Tolerance on Bribery policies and maintains ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System standards. These efforts reflect Pertamina's goal of becoming a world-class oil and gas company that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and governed by ethical standards.
 

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