Hutan is a grassroots wildlife research and conservation organisation developing community-driven solutions for a peaceful coexistence between wildlife and people.

  • We preserve threatened habitats and species, support the sustainable management of natural ecosystems, empower local communities, and build innovative cross-sectoral partnerships.

  • Founded by two French biologists, Dr Isabelle Lackman and Dr Marc Ancrenaz, Hutan began its journey in 1998 as a small orangutan research project in the remote village of Sukau, located on the Kinabatangan floodplain in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Today, Hutan has grown into a dedicated team of over a hundred staff members from the local Orang Sungai community, working with exceptional commitment and expertise to safeguard their natural heritage. Operating under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sabah Wildlife Department, Hutan now comprises seven specialised units that holistically address the diverse and complex challenges of biodiversity conservation.

Meet the Teams

  • Orangutan Research

    The team follows and studies wild habituated orangutans at our intensive study site located in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and also monitors orangutan populations in agricultural landscapes documenting how orangutans can survive in degraded and fragmented forests and mosaic landscapes heavily transformed by human activities.

  • Wildlife Survey & Protection

    This team is in charge of biodiversity monitoring, wildlife protection and mitigating conflicts between people and animals. In 2002, Hutan initiated an “Elephant Conservation Unit” that was merged subsequently with the Hutan Honorary Wildlife Wardens and finally became the WSP in 2016. This team is also in charge of hornbill conservation activities at Hutan.

  • Reforestation-N

    Committed to rehabilitating critical wildlife habitats in the Kinabatangan region, with a special focus on restoring a continuous forest corridor along the Kinabatangan River. This reforestation team takes part in replanting and forest maintenance efforts, as well as managing the Hutan Native Tree Nursery. They also conduct research into plant phenology and health.

  • Reforestation-M

    Committed to rehabilitating critical wildlife habitats in the Kinabatangan region, with a special focus on restoring a continuous forest corridor along the Kinabatangan River. This reforestation team is involved in replanting, forest maintenance efforts, and environmental surveys particularly in the areas of wildlife corridor that overlap with oil palm plantations.

  • Science Department

    We work with the field teams to make research protocols accessible to local conservationists and share our findings to improve conservation strategies.

  • Sumbu Hutan

    Sumbu Hutan supports the Kinabatangan Biosphere Reserve initiatives while delivering environmental awareness programmes for schools and communities across Sabah and Malaysia. Through community engagement, education, and outreach, the unit strengthens long-term conservation efforts in the region.

  • Pangi Swiftlet Population Recovery

    Since 2010, the team has been working to restore cave-dwelling swiftlet populations in the Pangi Forest Reserve, a unique limestone habitat in the Kinabatangan floodplain. The project has successfully increased the swiftlet population from 317 breeding pairs in 2010 to more than 5,000 in 2024.

  • Operations

    This team works diligently behind the scenes to provide essential logistical support to our field units in Sukau. The team is responsible for maintaining infrastructure and equipment, managing vehicles, procuring supplies and ensuring reliable utilities and basic services at Hutan sites.