Joji, the Agile Star of Kelempiau Park

Joji is the heartbeat of Kelempiau Park—the reason it feels alive, not just scenic. Doc. Rmsp.

BORNEOTRAVEL- SEKADAU:  It stands as a living symbol of conservation in Tapang Sambas, West Borneo

High above the emerald canopy of West Borneo, where morning mist still clings to the leaves and the symphony of the rainforest hums softly in the background, a single figure swings effortlessly from a slender treetop branch. 

Meet Joji —the charismatic gibbon and unofficial ambassador of Taman Kelempiau (Kelempiau Park), a hidden conservation gem nestled in Tapang Sambas, Sekadau Regency.

This is where Joji lives

Located just about 30 minutes by car from the vibrant town of Sintang, the road to Kelempiau Park winds past quiet villages and lush greenery before reaching the longhouse-shaped headquarters of Credit Union Keling Kumang —a symbolic structure standing tall as a tribute to Dayak culture. From there, a left turn takes you off the paved road and into a more serene world, where forest spirits still seem to whisper through the trees.

This is where Joji lives, on a small island habitat of roughly 60 square meters, created specifically for his protection and comfort. Though his world is compact, his presence looms large. He is cared for daily—fed two meals, mostly of papayas and salak fruits, and observed with a careful eye by Tomi, his devoted caretaker.

“There used to be more of them,” Tomi recalls, “but most were relocated to BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Agency) facilities. Joji stayed. He’s special.”

Joji performs high atop a tall tree, delighting visitors who can’t take their eyes off him. Doc. Rmsp.

And special he is. When visitors approach, Joji seems to know he’s being watched. With a flair rivaling that of a Broadway performer, he launches into spontaneous acrobatics— leaping between branches, swinging with astonishing grace, and occasionally pausing to strike a pose, as if to say, “Did you catch that?”

These displays aren’t just charming—they’re meaningful. For many locals, Joji is a living bridge to a fading memory. “When we were kids,” says Munaldus, a Tapang Sambas native and one of the visionaries behind the Keling Kumang Movement, “we’d hear the call of the kelempiau every morning. It was a sound of the forest, of home.” Now, through Joji, that sound is heard again, echoing gently through the conservation zone.

Kelempiau Park is more than a sanctuary for one animal

Kelempiau Park is more than a sanctuary for one animal. It represents a model for community-led conservation rooted in cultural identity. 

Managed by the Gerakan Keling Kumang (Keling Kumang Movement), an initiative that empowers local Dayak people to protect their ancestral lands and biodiversity, the park is both a refuge and a statement: that indigenous stewardship can not only preserve but also enrich the natural world.

And perhaps that’s Joji’s greatest role—not just as a lone survivor, but as a storyteller. He reminds us that the rainforest isn’t just a place; it’s a legacy. A legacy of balance, beauty, and the invisible threads that connect humans, animals, and land.

Without Joji, it’s just another patch of green.
With Joji, Kelempiau Park becomes a living, breathing tale of resilience and hope.

So come. Stand under the towering canopy. Listen for the soft rustle above. And if you’re lucky, Joji will perform for you—an airborne ballet of freedom and memory. 

A leap of joy that says: the wild still lives here.

-- Masri Sareb Putra