Words by Lisa Tang

As you become older, your dreams and aspirations change. I realised it doesn’t matter what studies you did or what experience or background you have, anyone can volunteer. There is a classic saying: “When there is a will, there’s a way.”

The account ‘Langur Project Penang’ landed in my algorithm. I was particularly intrigued by their approach in wildlife canopy bridges projects. I thought to myself how awesome would it be if I am part of this movement? Canopy bridges are widely used everywhere else in the world, but in Malaysia this is still fairly foreign. So I decided to write in for a volunteer opportunity.

And so it happened. My subject is Tarzan group at Batu Ferringhi. A troop of 14 dusky leaf langurs.

So the first thing I learn is holding a binocular. How to spot and observe through the lens. As I am a nature and wildlife enthusiast, my experience comes in handy. As I spend more time observing this peculiar species – Dusky langurs, I realised that they are very much like us humans.

Our daily routines are almost comparable: sleeping, social grooming, foraging, cuddling, seeking attention, playing and the list goes on.

It’s my privilege to observe them from a respectful distance and have a good glimpse of their lives and challenges they face on a daily basis. Every time when I see them crossing the road, climbing on the electric cables, my heart stops a beat. Even in the morning light, cars drive frantically on this road. I motion them to slow down but many of them just ignore and accelerate…

My volunteer work becomes meaningful when I heard that it is part of a research for the third canopy bridge.

Did you know that Malaysia is the second laziest in the world when it comes to walking?

Lazy in the sense that we rely heavily on our transports to commute. More cars meaning higher chance of roadkills. In the end, less and less wildlife will survive in the infrastructure we build. Therefore what LPP does is so important and a breakthrough in the conservation sector.

My most memorable moment during my volunteer experience is standing under a beautiful bucinda tree with a view of the entire Tarzan family with their tails pointing straight down to the ground.

I hear the Black Giant Squirrels and plantain squirrel chirping in the background. All three arboreal species climb and hop about on branches minding their own lives. What a wonderful thing to know that this tree is home to so many species? 

For one moment, the frenzy chirps behind a tree trunk makes me wonder what the commotion is all about. Next, a bushy tail pierces out from behind the tree trunk and above that hops out an infant dusky. And so it seems that there are two Black Giant Squirrels being mocked by the infant! The trio is playing tag and what a treat for me to witness this live!

Signing off,

Lisa