This coming weekend Kota Kinabalu will see the holding of a ‘tamu’ with a difference.
The organiser LEAP director Cynthia Ong said KeTAMU is a market with a twist.
There will be food, art, music and crafts, vendors from all over Sabah, from as far as the Kinabatangan estuary, Pitas and Semporna.
“It was originally launched in 2019 to create a space for eco-social equality, Sabahan enterprise, fair trade, sustainable production and consumption and celebration of innovation and beauty.
“Everybody is invited to come and support” she added.
This second event themed ‘KeTAMU 4 Pangolins’ is being held on 15th and 16th February 2020 with collaboration with Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Art Gallery, Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Parks and Danau Girang Field Centre.
Guest of honour will be the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew.
It aims to celebrate World Pangolin Day which falls on Saturday 15th February, and to highlight the plight of pangolins and raise awareness of this shy, little known mammal.
Sabah’s very own pangolin researcher and ambassador Elisa Panjang explained that World Pangolin Day is celebrated internationally every year to draw attention to these wonderful yet vulnerable creatures.
“There will be interactive chats about pangolins, storytelling and games for children at the KeTAMU, as well as presentations on pangolin conservation.
The KeTAMU provides a great opportunity to reach a large audience including school children, tourists and the general public”.
“This timid, slow moving animal has no defense against humans.
“Pangolins are Totally Protected species under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and it is illegal to hunt, kill or sell them.
“Ending the trade in wildlife including the consumption of wildlife meat can also potentially help to resolve the transmission of diseases from wildlife to humans, currently a major global issue” said Elisa.
© Borneo Echo 