Langur Project Penang Advances Human-Wildlife Coexistence Through Citizen Science

By Ummu Khalidah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) --  Efforts to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and urban wildlife in Penang are gaining ground through a citizen science-driven approach led by a primate conservation enterprise, Langur Project Penang (LPP).

LPP founder and head Dr Jo Leen Yap said the initiative strengthens data collection on wildlife movement while enabling the public to take part in scientific activities and reshaping perceptions of primates often seen as aggressive.

“Through the involvement of volunteers -- from students to working adults -- the initiative empowers ordinary citizens to contribute to scientific research such as observing wildlife behaviour, recording movement patterns and documenting interactions on the ground,” she told Bernama in an exclusive interview.

She said the initiative is anchored on three pillars, namely citizen science, scientific research and environmental education, which work in tandem to address challenges arising from human-wildlife interactions.

Data gathered by volunteers is analysed and used to develop practical strategies to improve coexistence, including the installation of canopy bridges that provide safer crossings for wildlife in areas affected by habitat fragmentation.

Yap said the idea for canopy bridges emerged in 2017 during her research on dusky langurs in Teluk Bahang, when she observed animals such as monkeys and civet cats being pushed to forest edges because roads were dividing their habitat.

“They had to cross busy roads just to find food and shelter, and between 2016 and 2017, we saw many cases of monkeys running across roads and frequent roadkills. That’s when we realised there was a lack of safe crossing options for wildlife in Malaysia,” she said.

Drawing inspiration from countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, India and Australia, which have introduced tree-top corridors to help arboreal animals cross safely, LPP launched the “Bridge to Coexistence Project” with Animal Project and Environmental Education (APE) Malaysia.

The team repurposed used fire hoses -- inspired by similar applications in the United States -- and tested the material with Universiti Sains Malaysia, which confirmed its suitability for canopy bridges for medium-sized animals.

“The first bridge was installed in 2019 with approval from the Penang state government. Since then, we have recorded up to nine species using the bridge, including long-tailed macaques and paradise tree snakes,” Yap said.

Following this success, a second bridge was installed in Tanjung Bungah in 2024, with a third slated for installation in April.

She added that LPP works closely with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), the Public Works Department and Tenaga Nasional Berhad to ensure canopy bridge installations and habitat management efforts comply with safety and regulatory requirements.

Meanwhile, LPP project executive Hui Yi Wong said community engagement and environmental education are key to improving public attitudes towards wildlife.

“Many people think monkeys are naturally hostile, but in reality their behaviour is largely influenced by human actions such as feeding and poor waste management,” she said, noting that feeding conditions animals to associate humans with food, while unmanaged waste draws wildlife into human-populated areas.

Through the programme, students, families and local communities are trained to better understand wildlife habitats and respond safely and responsibly to animal encounters.

Activities are conducted at green spaces across Penang, including Penang Botanic Gardens and Taman Rimba Teluk Bahang, as well as at canopy bridge sites to showcase real-world conservation efforts.

Participants are also given hands-on exposure to citizen science tools such as binoculars, camera traps and the iNaturalist app, allowing them to experience fieldwork similar to that carried out by LPP researchers.

-- BERNAMA