A Journey into the Wild To Discover Borneo’s Unique Primates
London-born, Dr. Elizabeth Lesley Bennett's life took an adventurous turn when she pursued her Bachelor of Science at the University of Nottingham.
In 1978, she embarked on a journey to Malaysia for her Doctorate research on banded langurs, but the allure of the proboscis monkey, a fascinating leaf monkey found only in mangrove forests on the island of Borneo redirected her scientific interest.
Returning to Malaysia in 1984 after obtaining her Doctorate, Dr. Bennett found herself captivated by the enigmatic proboscis monkeys, a threatened species about which very little was known at the time.
From A Deep Fascination to Saving Sanctuary
Dr. Bennett's pioneering research sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF Malaysia resulted in the first detailed study on the ecology and social organization of proboscis monkeys. Her findings, published in "The Proboscis Monkeys of Borneo," provided crucial insights for their conservation and marked the beginning of her journey into wildlife conservation.
Dr. Bennett extended her conservation efforts to wetland habitats in Sarawak, collaborating with the Sarawak Forest Department. She also initiated conservation education programs and worked on safeguarding coastal swamp forests. This sanctuary plays a vital role in preserving the habitat for coastal forest wildlife like the proboscis monkey.
Devoting Herself to the Wildlife Conservation Society
From 1989 onwards, Dr. Bennett dedicated her time to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where she served as the Director of WCS’s Malaysian Programmes from 1992 to 2002, conducting groundbreaking research on the impact of hunting in Sarawak and Sabah—the first study of its kind in the region.
In 1995, Dr. Bennett worked with the Sarawak Forest Department to develop “A Master Plan for Wildlife in Sarawak,” a comprehensive policy document that detailed all the steps needed to conserve and manage wildlife in Sarawak. Her efforts resulted in legislation, conservation education, and enforcement programs, significantly curbing wildlife trade.
In reflecting on some of the challenges faced when developing the plan she says: “Probably the two greatest challenges were finding how best to balance the needs of wildlife with those of local rural communities whose lives are intertwined with the wildlife and forests, and second, in building support for the key recommendations. On the other hand, we knew that the science behind the recommendations was solid, we had an excellent team of people working on it with deep expertise in its social as well as biological aspects, and we had strong support throughout from senior-most levels of the Sarawak Government.”
Dr. Bennett's extensive contributions to environmental conservation earned her the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak in 2003 and the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2005. Currently serving as the Vice-President of Species Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, Dr. Bennett strongly believes that there can be balance in preserving Malaysia's natural heritage and its journey towards progress and development.
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