KOTA KINABALU: Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad is the latest corporate sponsor to lend a helping hand to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park with a sponsorship of RM125,000 worth of milk products.

“Dutch Lady’s sponsorship is very much appreciated as it is costly to provide food for the Wildlife Park and Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre,” said the director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Laurentius Ambu.

In order to ensure that wildlife under their care receive the best in terms of nutrition, the SWD has been reaching out to corporate bodies for financial assistance or donations in kind.

“We have been very fortunate as the response has been encouraging with the latest being Dutch Lady with this contribution of milk which will be used for the orang-utans in Lok Kawi and Sepilok as well as the baby elephants under our care,” said Laurentius at a ceremony for the handing over of the sponsorship cheque on Saturday.

According to Dutch Lady’s corporate affairs manager, Rohana Safinah Abdul Hamid, the donation was fulfilment of the company’s social responsibility.

“We hope that this contribution will help in some way as we were very impressed by the work being carried out by the Sabah Wildlife Department,” said Rohana.

Other corporate sponsors include the Shangri-La Rasa Ria which has adopted the orang-utan exhibit at Lok Kawi which is currently undergoing renovation to improve their enclosure while Langkah Syabas Beach Resort is contributing to the upkeep of one of the baby elephants.

“Another major corporate sponsor that is coming in to assist us with the Sumatran Rhinoceros is Sime Darby Berhad which has agreed to commit eight million ringgit to the captive breeding programme in Tabin,” shared Laurentius.

However, much more is needed as the SWD estimates that at least RM20 million is required to complete the facilities for this elusive rhino in an attempt to save it from the brink of extinction.

“We are making the same appeal to other corporate bodies who would like to work with us as part of their CSR efforts like what Dutch Lady has done today. This would help wildlife under our care immensely,” stated the director.