Mariani 'Bam' Ramli

I began working in wildlife conservation in 2007, and since 2013 my focus has been on gibbon rehabilitation and conservation in Malaysia. My work centers on developing and implementing rehabilitation programs for gibbons rescued from the wildlife pet trade and other unfortunate situations with the goal of safely returning them to the forest once they have met the seven release criteria outlined in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for the Rehabilitation and Translocation of Gibbons. This includes behavioral and welfare assessments, social pairings, enclosure design, as well as pre- and post-release monitoring to support their long-term survival.I hold a degree in animal biology and spent nearly a decade as a wildlife ranger with Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife & National Parks, or Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar & Taman Negara Semenanjung Malaysia (PERHILITAN), where I worked biodiversity inventories, rescue operations and enforcement efforts to protect wildlife species. Later, as a project coordinator and researcher with the Copenhagen Zoo, I studied the ecology, present absence, breeding and habitat use of flat-headed cats.A key part of my work as Project Director at Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP) and Malaya Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Malaya GReP) involves collaborating with local and Indigenous communities. I’m committed to creating opportunities for women in a field that is often male-dominated, supporting those who may not have formal training but bring passion and lived experience to wildlife conservation. At the same time, I work to connect Malaysia’s conservation efforts to international networks and standards, ensuring that local actions contribute to global wildlife protection goals.I speak at universities across Malaysia – including Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and others – because there's a gap in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education here. Malaysia doesn't have formal academic programs in these fields yet, so I try to give students a realistic picture of what this work looks like day-to-day. I also talk about leadership in youth programs, hoping to open up pathways for young people who might be interested in conservation but don't see a clear way in.

Work

Gibbon Conservation Society
Founder, President & Project Director
2016 - PresentMalaya Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Malaya GReP)
Founder & Project Director
2013 - PresentBorneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (Borneo GReP)
Founder & Project Director
2022 - Present2025 - University Scholars Leadership Symposium
2024-2025 - World Female Ranger Ambassador
2024 - Gamuda Inspiration Award (Wildlife & Environmental)
2024 - Host & Co-organizer of the 4th International Gibbon Husbandry, Health & Conservation Conference
2023 - World Female Ranger Resilience Award
2022 - Star Golden Hearts Award
2021 - Runner Up for the McKenna-Travers Award in 2021
2019 - Malaysia Eco Champion by Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Malaysia
2019 - The EDGE Inspiring Young Leaders Award
2018 - American Primatological Society Award
2018 - Featured in Channel News Asia Insider – Inspiration section
2017 - Top Five Women in Leadership in Environmental Sustainability
2013 - Best Presenter for Business Pitching Competition for UniversitiesCopenhagen Zoo, Denmark
Project Coordinator (Student Researcher)
2012 - 2016Department of Wildlife & National Parks (PERHILITAN)
Wildlife Ranger
2007 - 2016

Research

Advocacy

  • 2022 - Represented IUCN in auditing the Sumatra Rescue Alliance Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre and was appointed as an expert consultant for the project by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Yayasan Orang-Utan Sumatra Lestari

  • 2019 - Orang-Utan Veterinary (Gibbon) Group Workshop

  • 2018 - Orang-Utan Veterinary (Gibbon) Group Workshop

  • 2016 - Gibbon Rehabilitation and Translocation Procedures, Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

  • 2015 - Gibbon Rehabilitation and Conservation Programs, Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, Phuket, Thailand

  • 2012 - Flat-headed Cat Behavior Study, Songkhla Zoo, Thailand

  • 2012 - Ecology and Evolution Course, Nottingham University, Malaysia

  • 2011 - Data Analyzing for Camera Trapping, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • 2010 - DNA Sampling for Wildlife, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • 2009 - Wildlife Handling, Melaka Zoo, Malaysia

  • 2008 - Scientific Wildlife Inventory Course, Pahang, Malaysia

Media Features

Contact

I am always open to connect with individuals, organizations, and communities who share a commitment to wildlife protection and empowering local voices in conservation. For collaboration, partnership, media feature or enquiries about gibbon rehabilitation and community-based conservation, messages are directed to the appropriate contact.