Sabah Made History: The first ‘Kalawot’ to be born in captivity

12 June 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The unprecedented birth of a male gibbon on 8 May 2025, the first in the world to be born in captivity for this species (scientifically known as ‘Hylobates funereus, commonly called the North Bornean Gibbon or 'Kalawot' in the local indigenous language), has made history for Sabah and Malaysia, according to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew.

Sabah-born primatologist Mariani Ramli, Founder and President of the Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS), was honoured by Liew with the opportunity to name the baby, born to parents Candyman and Manis (rescued a few years ago) at the Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP) site in Kg Kiau Bersatu, Kota Belud.

Founded in 2013, GCS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-wilding (or release back into the wild) of Malaysia’s elusive singing gibbons—often victims of the illegal wildlife pet trade. The Borneo GReP was established in 2022.

Liew (centre), flanked by Mohd Soffian (on her left) and Mariani, naming the baby gibbon (INSET) "Nabalu" after picking the name by drawing names at the Ministry's Conference Room

“This birth marks a historic milestone for this endangered species in captivity at a rehabilitation centre. I have chosen the name ‘Nabalu’ (meaning ‘Spirit of the Mountain’) for this infant gibbon, based on a suggestion from Mariani during her recent courtesy call,” Liew said, while also announcing the Ministry’s symbolic adoption of the young gibbon. “The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), through its agency Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL), fully supports the Society’s efforts in gibbon conservation, rehabilitation, and re-wilding projects.”

In response to a question from the Minister, Mariani, who is the Director of Operations at Borneo GReP, explained that Nabalu, along with his parents, will be released back into the wild as a family once he is more than six months old. “With Nabalu’s birth, both Manis and Candyman have demonstrated their readiness for re-wilding,” she added.

According to the gibbon expert, successful re-wilding requires fulfilling all the criteria outlined in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Best Practices Guidelines for the Rehabilitation and Translocation of Gibbons. These include: brachiation (natural swinging from branch to branch), minimal time on the ground (less than 5%), more than 40% of the time spent in the upper canopy, proper socialisation (at least 3% of the time spent grooming and bonding with others), and pairing with a mate (successful mating and co-parenting of offspring).

She also emphasised that the release site must be agreeable to all stakeholders, including KePKAS, JHL, GCS, and the local community where the gibbons are to be released.

Meanwhile, the Minister congratulated Mariani on her international recognition for her work in gibbon conservation and rehabilitation in Malaysia through GCS. Notably, the primatologist was twice appointed as the World Female Ranger Ambassador for Resilience—in 2024 and 2025—and is the only Malaysian to hold this distinction.

“Your passion and relentless efforts have made Sabah and Malaysia proud, especially through your leadership in gibbon conservation,” Liew remarked. “We are also proud that the two gibbon rehabilitation centres in Sabah and Pahang are Malaysia’s only IUCN-accredited gibbon rehabilitation project sites.”

Few are aware of GCS’s existence, let alone that it owns, operates, and manages the Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project site (Borneo GReP) in Kota Belud. The Raub site in Pahang is managed by Operations Director Ana Jonessy, who is also a Sabah native.

During the courtesy call, Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL), Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, noted that gibbons rescued by the department are handed over to Borneo GReP for rehabilitation purposes.