WE TALK ABOUT
MALAYSIA LAUNCHES ORANGUTAN DIPLOMACY
THE ancient tradition of countries exchanging animals as gifts dates to ancient Egypt when Cleopatra gifted a giraffe to Rome's Julius Caesar.
Since 1941, China has adopted this practice by sending giant pandas to other countries as symbols of goodwill, a practice that Australia has copied with koalas.
Now, Malaysia has shown a keen interest in joining the unique tradition of animal diplomacy (see Word of the Week).
The government recently announced its intention to give orangutans to countries that purchase palm oil from them as a show of their commitment to biodiversity conservation.
“This will be a testimony to how Malaysia preserves species and helps to protect the sustainability of our forests,” said minister of plantations and commodities Johari Abdul Ghani.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
China uses panda diplomacy to improve its international image and strengthen relationships with recipient
