Sarawak Dolphin Conservation Project

Sarawak's Dolphins are finally getting the attention they needed for their survival. The good news came on 15 May 2008, when the Sarawak Dolphin Project was officially launched in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak.

A collaborative effort for the conservation of these animals was forged between Sarawak Shell Berhad, and Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC) of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Sarawak Forestry Corporation. Sarawak Shell Berhad is providing a grant of RM160,000 to support the research.

The Sarawak Dolphin Project aims to collect baseline data on the seasonal distribution, habitat use and population of the dolphins in Sarawak. Among the species found in the shores of Sarawak are the Irrawaddy dolphins, finless porpoises and Indo-pacific humpback dolphins.

ABOUT UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK (UNIMAS)

UNIMAS was established in 1992. The University's mission is to generate, disseminate and apply knowledge strategically and innovatively to enhance the quality of the nation’s culture and prosperity of its people. The knowledge creation initiatives at UNIMAS are premised partly upon the wealth of natural resources and diverse socio-cultural make up of the State of Sarawak. UNIMAS commitment to research has already been recognized by the stakeholders and partners in industry through provision of endowments for the establishment of eight research chairs; these include the Tun Zaidi Chair for Medicinal Chemistry, the Tun Openg Chair for Sago Technology, the Shell Chair for Environmental Studies, and the Sapura Chair for ICT.