Rare tarsier's guardian angel
Rare tarsier's guardian angel
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former beauty queen Angelina Patricia Pingkan Sondakh is trying
hard to live up to her controversial statement that "beauty is
not everything".
Angelina, the 2001 Miss Indonesia, is making her mark as a
conservationist, an animal lover and a writer. To show her true
love for nature, she is focusing on the protection of the tarsier
(tarsius spectrum), a tiny endangered primate.
She has completed her second book titled Tarsius Spectrum -
Lambang Cinta Sejati (Tarsius Spectrum -- Symbol of True Love),
but unfortunately she has canceled a plan to launch the book on
June 5, 2003, World Environment Day.
"Well, I think it's better to go on a public campaign about
saving the tarsier first, then one or two years later I'll launch
the book," she told The Jakarta Post at her office.
Angelina now works as public relations and communications
director with an event organizer, Royalindo Expoduta.
Her first book Kecantikan bukan modal utama saya (Beauty is
Not Everything), was published in late 2002, making her the first
Miss Indonesia to express her vision in a book. In the book she
tries to deviate from the stereotype of a beautiful women who
obtains popularity through pageant contests.
Her vision on beauty and the mission of Miss Indonesia as she
describes in the book stirred up quite a controversy.
Angelina, who loves water sports like swimming, diving and jet
skiing, claims she does not want to be a celebrity like other
former beauty queens, but she wants recognition as a writer.
"I want to share my experience with others through books.
Writing is a noble job," she said.
Regarding the tarsius spectrum, Angel explained that she fell
in love with the animal not only because of its small size and
physical beauty, but more because of its peaceful and loving
nature.
"The tarsier is monogamous; its love is true, such that if its
spouse dies, it too will die shortly afterwards," she said.
"The animal is peace loving. If its home is occupied by other
animals, it will persuade them to leave without resorting to
violence. It would be suitable to use as a mascot for Indonesia,
where violence is commonplace."
To better know the tarsier, she visited its natural habitat in
Tangkoko Batuangus National Park, North Sulawesi, where she had
to stay after dusk and wait for the animal to go out.
Angelina's efforts to campaign for the survival of the tarsier
has also received support from the Minister of Culture and
Tourism I Gde Ardika, who named her Indonesian ambassador for
orangutan and tarsier protection.
"I campaigned in four states in America and received a
positive response," said the classical and slow rock music lover.
Angelina was dismayed to know that people in other parts of
the world care about the tarsier which lives in the neighboring
Philippines more than those in North Sulawesi.
Funds from the United Nations for the tarsier go mostly to the
Philippines.
"So my duty is to convince the world that tarsier and
orangutan deserve international attention for their survival. My
dream is that the UN will put the tarsier on its list of
endangered animals featured on its stamps," Angelina said.
She expressed envy about the worldwide popularity of the
Tasmanian devil. Indonesia has yet to promote any of its many
endangered native animals as a world icon.
"If tarsier can be made a world icon, Indonesia would benefit
a lot," she said.
Angelina has also been campaigning among businesspeople as
part of her efforts to raise public awareness about the plight of
the tarsier.
She also put tarsier on her website, www.angelinasondakh.com.
"If you access my website you will find the tarsier, and if you
access the tarsier website you will find me," she said.
Born in Australia on Dec. 28, 1977, Angelina grew up in Manado
and Australia, Angelina began making a mark for herself by
winning various speech competitions, scientific debates, beauty
contests in North Sulawesi and at the national level.
She has been aware of environmental issues from a young age
thanks to her father's profession as a lecturer in animal
husbandry at Sam Ratulangi University.
"My house is like a zoo. My father's hobby is horse riding. In
Manado, the community is close to nature where activities like
swimming, diving and hiking are popular. So I learnt about the
environment a long time ago," she said.
It has become her major concern that despite Mother Nature's
generosity, only a few people have the awareness about the
balance between producing and consuming natural resources.
"Balance is important... It's also my life principle. If
everybody knows about balance or yin and yang, there will be a
harmony in life," she said.
Angelina is determined to divide her time between her regular
work and her conservation activities, particularly for tarsier
protection.
"Sure, I may not be able to spend 100 percent of my time on
helping the environment but I'll not loosen my commitment to the
environment," she said diplomatically.