11/04/2026
Pulau Curiak – Unit Mobilisasi Kegiatan Belajar Terpadu (MKBT) Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (FKIP) Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) memfasilitasi kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat internasional dengan tema “International Community Service Program: A Collaborative Initiative Between FKIP ULM and ISAT-U.” Kegiatan dilaksanakan di Lokasi Konservasi Bekantan di Pulau Curiak, Kabupaten Batola pada Sabtu, 11/04 mulai pukul 09.00 sampai 14.00 WITA. Kegiatan ini diikuti oleh sejumlah dosen dan mahasiswa FKIP ULM, serta mahasiswa dari Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U). Kegiatan ini meliputi sesi penjelasan pengelola konservasi mengenai stasiun riset Bekantan. Para peserta diinformasikan mengenai jumlah Bekantan, makanan mereka, dan juga kaitan antara wilayah konservasi dengan Geopark Meratus. Selanjutnya peserta diajak berkeliling pulau untuk melihat hutan mangrove Pohon Rambai, dan peserta selanjutnya melakukan observasi, lalu melakukan penanaman pohon Rambai.
Menurut Ketua Unit MKBT, Raisa Fadilla, kegiatan pengabdian kolaboratif ini berakar dari program SEA Teacher. ” Program ini tidak hanya bertujuan mempererat kemitraan FKIP ULM dan ISAT-U, tetapi juga menghadirkan pengabdian masyarakat yang berwawasan global dan berkelanjutan,” jelasnya. Sementara itu, salah satu mahasiswa ISAT-U, Conrado E. Torreteo Jr. menyampaikan antusiasmenya mengikuti kegiatan ini. “My visit to Curiak Island was an incredibly eye-opening experience. I learned so much about the efforts to preserve the Bekantan (Proboscis Monkey), a unique and endangered species that lives here. What fascinated me most was understanding the deep connection between the monkeys and their environment. I was taught how crucial mangrove conservation is, because mangroves are not just their home, but also their main source of food. Seeing how the community protects these forests to ensure the Bekantan have enough to eat and a safe place to live was truly inspiring. It is amazing to see how nature is balanced here, and how preserving the mangroves directly saves this beautiful species. This trip gave me a deeper appreciation for our ecosystem and the importance of protecting it.”
Mahasiswa lain, Cydell Rose Poral juga menyampaikan antusiasmenya. “We planted mangrove propagules ourselves in a hands‑on restoration site, not the typical coastal varieties, but specialized species thriving inland amid the geopark’s unique geology. But the real standout was the bekantan (also known as the long‑nose monkey). I expected just to watch and be entertained by these gentle, reddish‑brown primates with their distinctive large noses, but it went far beyond. They’re critically endangered, yet dedicated efforts have boosted their numbers through protected habitats and community programs. We learned their diet; favoring young mangrove leaves and fruits, learned their physical traits; the alpha male’s underwear‑like sacs; and their swampy riverine habitats, plus their vital ecosystem roles. This experience deepened my passion for science education, linking biology, ecology, and community action, and turned me into a teacher who doesn’t just explain ecosystems—but believes in becoming part of their healing,” jelasnya penuh semangat. (Admin)
