ONE of Sarawak’s biggest tourist draws, the Semenggoh Nature Reserve and the family of orangutans there, has won a prize in this year’s World Tourism Awards.

The nature reserve, about 20km from Kuching, topped the list of entries in the sustainable tourism programme, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today when launching the Love Hornbill Day at the Piasau nature reserve in Miri.

The award presentation this year will be in the German city of Berlin on April 3.

Abang Johari said the award is a world recognition on the state’s efforts towards a sustainable environment.

The World Tourism Awards was established to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel tourism & hospitality industry.

They are considered the Oscars of the tourism industry.

The nature reserve also contains the wildlife centre, which acts as a home to orangutans.

The wildlife centre is the biggest orangutan rehabilitation centre in the state. It was established in 1975 as a sanctuary for orangutans that are injured, orphaned or being kept captive as illegal pets.

The centre is also a place for visitors to learn about the endangered rare species.

The orangutans here spend most of their time roaming the forest but are trained to get back to the centre during feeding times where they will be able to get a free meal from the caretakers.

Besides orangutans, the nature reserve is also a habitat for rare flora and fauna including the giant squirrel, pigmy squirrel, gibbons and splendid variety of birds. – February 15, 2020.