the Togian islands are probably best known for serene white sand beaches and dive resorts. However, not as many people know the rich terrestrial biodiversity of these islands are home. A doctor, also an environmentalist at heart, decided to move to Malenge to design a program for children to promote the conservation of native island primates.
Dr. Ating Solihin may not be your typical doctor. His Chinese often causes the question "What is your business?" To which he replied: "I have not" Actually, being a doctor is not the career of choice
.. "I accepted in ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) to become an ecologist," said Dr Ating, which received the best grades in high school. "But my parents wanted a doctor in the family. To please my parents, I took the placement test and got an offer to study medicine at the University of Gajah Mada in Yogyakarta. If I have not seen my parents cut off financial support, so I obeyed. But then I thought, doctors can work in remote rural areas as well. My parents had hoped that I would become an expert and make a lot of money in the big city. Instead, I went to the jungle of Papua for 12 years. "
Dr Ating and his wife and dogs
It was in 1989 straight out of college. He worked with the Asmat for two years then continued his masters in majoring US environmental health through a grant from the SOS clinic Tembagapura. the stock was asked to work in the region Freeport until 1995, but his work with indigenous Papuans has been deprecated. After that, he went to Wamena to serve as a volunteer missionary doctor, and later took a job medical research in Jayapura where he . mapping malaria
Since then, Dr Ating moved in various parts of Indonesia: Flores, Bali, Wakatobi and central Sulawesi for projects that combine conservation and expertise in medicine and public health. the current home of the Malenge island is heavily forested habitat of endemic primate tarsier and black macaque monkey. "Legend has it that a pair of black macaques were introduced to the island by a foreign vessel. Then, to avoid a storm, the ship departed in haste, forgetting the creatures behind. That's why Malenge is the only island in Togian to have the primates, or for local people believe, "said Dr Ating.
While living in Bali, the Foundation Dr Ating was established in 2011 on the initiative of a parent Green School. The children of the Swedish family did not speak English when they first arrive, and often visited Dr Ating who was the doctor of the house of Balinese school. Seeing modest lifestyle Dr Ating, parents asked what his dreams were now that he could not afford to continue.
"I said I wanted to work in nature, animal conservation and forest. But I have no background in education, nor the funds," said Dr. ating. "Then they returned to Sweden and created the foundation. They even tell me until they already published on the internet. It was legally established in Sweden, but I told them we needed in Indonesia too.
Initially, the work of the Foundation began in 2012 in Lore Lindu National park in the continental part of central Sulawesi, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Wallacea region. to to support the project, Dr Ating extended to Togian islands where ecotourism is a rising industry. "Lore Lindu Togian and can be reached in a day, and ecotourism is an alternative potential source of funding."
fundraising has been a challenge and Dr Ating resorted to selling t-shirts. "donors live far away in Europe or America, and those in Indonesia are likely to be in major cities . If the forests disappear or a species disappears, it does not affect them. "So far, the foundation is the unique work of Dr. Ating, as it is not able to pay employees.
The best form of conservation is the conservation community.
"But in practice, it was difficult when people do not understand the importance of conservation and have the initiative to make it happen," said Dr Ating. "In my case, I found what works is to buy and protect. But it takes a lot of money. My dream is to buy land where the animals are likely to come and create a buffer zone fruit trees -. I can protect this land "
Dr. Ating notes that community conservation can only succeed if it directly benefits the community in financial terms. It currently focuses its efforts on conservation education, in collaboration with local and international schools. He intends to adopt the model of Wallacea operation in Wakatobi, where international high school students and university living with the locals for a small fee, opening job opportunities for research assistants , trekking guides and the catering staff.
book for children by elementary students in Dyatmika School, Bali
"Unfortunately, this happens only two months a year during school holidays summer, "said Dr Ating." because of my lack of powers, I am also unable to give students visiting academic credit for the work they do here. "
Because of this, Dr. Ating shifted his attention to primary school pupils where international students from large cities visit local primary schools in the Togian and acquire skills and conservation knowledge.
"In this way, international get to learn the importance of tropical matters, and the people become more aware of what is happening in their backyard [ sic ]. Many local people here do not know the primate tarsier. They catch the animal, feed fruit, and it dies. They do not know that tarsiers do eat insects and are active at night, "said Dr Ating.
In 2013, Dr. Ating published the children's book written and illustrated by tarsiers third and fourth year students of the school Dyatmika in Bali. He says he hopes such projects inspire children to make their own conservation research and interact with local and international counterparts to do their part for the planet. "There is more hope for children and adults, it is," he said.
Dr. Ating do not buy into the idea that local communities are naturally guards their environment. "It is a myth. In the jungle of Papua, indigenous peoples who do not have much contact outside to kill any animal they encounter. Now they have access to guns and would shoot any bird, regardless of whether it is edible or not, "said Dr Ating. In Togian, reef bombing and poaching of animals by residents are still common. "I believe that animals have the right to live on this earth, too, regardless of whether they are directly useful to man."
Since the end of 2014, Dr Ating and Meidy wife and two dogs live near the beach Will be in a house with low wooden cost of old coconut and other local natural materials. They get fresh water by digging wells in their backyard, electricity from a private generator and treat their own waste disposal. This is the first home they actually owned, but they do not own the land.
For more information on Dr Ating Foundation, visit www.dratingfoundation.org . When not Malenge Dr Ating can be contacted at atingsolihin@gmail.com