Latest news with #Ayu
Arab News
a day ago
- Science
- Arab News
In Java, Indonesian conservationist leads efforts to protect endangered silvery gibbons
JAKARTA: It was deep in the heart of an Indonesian rainforest in West Java that Rahayu Oktaviani, known as Ayu, first heard the 'song' of the Javan gibbon. She had her first encounter in 2008 while visiting the Mount Halimun Salak National Park for an undergraduate research project that required her to obtain a voice sample of the primate. After waiting patiently for two weeks, coming in and out of the forest, she finally heard a Javan gibbon make its distinctive call. She recalled how the sound she described as melodic and haunting had created a hush, as it echoed throughout the forest. 'It's like the most beautiful song that I ever heard in my life. It's so amazing,' Ayu told Arab News. 'They are non-human primates, but they can have like this beautiful song that can make all of … the creatures in the forest just keep silent.' In the 17 years since, Ayu has dedicated her life to protecting the endangered animals, which are also known as 'silvery gibbon,' or 'owa jawa' locally. A vast archipelago stretching across the equator, Indonesia is a top global biodiversity hotspot and home to over 60 species of primates, about 38 of which are endemic to the country. 'Maybe a lot of people know about the orangutan, about the rhino, about the tiger, but how about the overlooked species, just like, for example, the Javan gibbon? Not so many people know about them,' Ayu said. Fewer than 2,500 Javan gibbons remain in the wild today, according to an estimate by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. About half of them live in the 87,000-hectare Mount Halimun Salak National Park, where Ayu and her team have laid the building blocks for grassroots conservation of the endangered species. The gibbons rely on a continuous canopy for movement and foraging, making them particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation and habitat degradation. As around 55 percent of Indonesia's 270 million population lives in Java, the survival of the endemic species found only in the island's forests is threatened by deforestation and illegal animal trafficking. 'With the situation in Java, where only like 10 percent of the natural forests are remaining, it means the forest itself should be intact. The forest itself still needs to be there not only for the Javan gibbons, but also for the other species that need this habitat for their lives,' Ayu said. In 2020, she co-founded the conservation nongovernmental organization Kiara to expand efforts to save the Javan gibbon, believing that a key aspect in protecting the species was to engage the local community. When she started out as a primatologist, spending much time in the forest to study the gibbons, Ayu did not realize that she was neglecting the very people who lived alongside the primates. She recalled a question a villager posed at the time, a woman named Yanti, who was curious as to why Ayu always went to the forest but rarely stopped by the village. 'That's a really casual and simple question, but it kept me thinking about what I've been doing so far. Is there something that I've been missing?' Ayu said. Yanti's query eventually led her to realize that she needed to do more with the community. 'We want to build together with the communities, where actually the gibbon can be something that they can be proud of,' she said. 'Community engagement is 100 percent the core for conservation because without community, we cannot do everything.' Ayu has employed people from Citalahab, a small village enclave located within the national park where locals make a living working in tea plantations or as rice farmers. Eight of them now work in the field alongside Ayu and her team to monitor the gibbons in the wild. With Kiara, she also established the Ambu Halimun initiative, which involves 15 local women between the ages of 17 and 50 in ecoprinting workshops and financial literacy training. In April, Ayu won the prestigious Whitley Award, which recognizes achievements in grassroots conservation, to advance her work in protecting the Javan gibbons. With 50,000 British pounds ($67,000) from the award, Ayu plans to scale up her programs with Kiara to mitigate threats from human activities and to protect the gibbons' habitat. This includes developing a data management system to enhance park-wide conservation efforts, training the park rangers in biodiversity monitoring techniques, and guiding conservation strategies. The 38-year-old, whose role models are 'the Trimates,' primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas, has faith that humans can live in coexistence with wildlife. 'Actually, if we put aside our ego, we are part of the ecosystem itself. We are not separated from the ecosystems, so it means we have to have more balance with nature,' she said. 'And to do that, we also have to respect what else (is) actually living together with us in these ecosystems.' Ayu said the Whitley Award served as good momentum to raise awareness about the species she loves dearly, the Javan gibbons. 'I believe not so many people are aware of the existence of the Javan gibbon, so it's the right momentum to share the love for the Javan gibbon and make people care about it,' she said. 'Because how can you care about the species if you know nothing about them?' With the award and the coverage that it garnered internationally, Ayu is also hopeful about inspiring a new generation of conservationists from Indonesia. 'I think women also play a good part to be conservationists in the future … It's also about … regeneration: the importance of nurturing the new generation of conservationists and primatologists from Indonesia, especially because we need more and more people who work in this field.'
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Inmate named Aidiladha among 54 freed ahead of Aidiladha celebration
BENTONG: A man named Aidiladha was among 54 inmates in Pahang released under the Licensed Release of Prisoners Programme (PBSL), in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha this Saturday. The 26-year-old had been convicted of minor drug trafficking last year and was sentenced to 14 months in prison. Having been in and out of prison three times, he was originally scheduled for release this August. "I'm grateful to be released earlier than expected, but this Aidiladha feels meaningless as my family has remained silent. "They didn't come to pick me up after my release. "I'm fortunate to have secured a job immediately upon my release today. I want to begin a meaningful new chapter in life, especially one free from drugs," he said. He was among the 54 inmates from Bentong and Penor Prisons in Kuantan who were released during the PBSL Ihsan Madani 2025 ceremony, held in conjunction with Aidiladha at the Dewan Perdana, Bentong Prison, recently. Another inmate, Ayu, 30, was also released under the same programme. She had been sentenced to 12 months in prison for drug-related offences and had previously served time once before. Ayu was initially scheduled to be released in August. "I miss my two children, aged 10 and 13. I can't wait to celebrate Aidiladha with them. I'm sure they miss me too," she said.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki to perform at Singapore Indoor Stadium in July
Ayumi Hamasaki's tour will also stop in Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as Japanese cities Nagoya and Hiroshima. PHOTO: UNUSUAL ENTERTAINMENT SINGAPORE – Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki will hold a concert at Singapore Indoor Stadium on July 5. Tickets from $188 will go on sale on May 26 via Ticketmaster. This will be the 46-year-old's first solo concert here. Her label, Avex, first announced the concert – without details on the venue, date and ticketing – in April. The show is part of her Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2025 A – I Am Ayu – tour that kicked off in Tokyo on April 8. Other stops include Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as Japanese cities Nagoya, Hiroshima, Osaka, Sendai and Fukuoka. The 2024 leg of the I Am Ayu tour saw her perform in Chinese cities Shanghai, Guangzhou and Ningbo. The tour features an immersive four-sided stage, which delivers a 360-degree experience from all sides of the venue. 'This year, we start from Japan – and we're bringing it to Asia,' the singer says in a statement. The singer, known as Ayu to her fans, made her debut in 1998. She is one of the most well known J-pop singers of the early 2000s, inspiring fashion trends and charting with songs such as A (1999) and Seasons (2000). In Singapore, she performed at the Japanese music festival A-Nation at Marina Bay Sands in 2014. She also performed at the MTV Asia Music Awards in Singapore in 2002. Book it/Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2025 A – I Am Ayu – Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk When: July 5, 7.30pm Admission: From $188 to $368 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) from noon on May 26 Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Three Malaysian content creators on their journey to motherhood
BEING a mother is said to be among the most fulfilling experiences a woman can embrace. Despite the many tribulations that come along with it, many women cite it as a highlight due to the unconditional love they develop during this journey. Local content creators Abby Naomi Doss, Ayu Rafikah Mohammad Ahmee and Genevieve Low Huai Yi can attest to this, being mothers themselves. In conjunction with Mother's Day this Sunday, they speak on their experience with theSun, opening up about their journey to motherhood. Natural calling Abby, who works as a content creator and public relations consultant, has always wanted motherhood for herself. The 31-year-old was fortunate to welcome her first child after three years of marriage. 'I have been a mother since my baby girl Elara Anaia was born last December. She just turned four months old. Every day with her is a new challenge and an adventure. I have been loving every moment of it,' said the Kuala Lumpur native. Ayu, a mother of seven, had the same calling. Growing up in a single-parent household, the 47-year-old content creator was inspired by her mother's tenacity to go above and beyond for her and her siblings. 'My mother was a single parent and she still managed to provide a good life for us. So, when I met my husband, the calling to have a family and be a mother felt natural.' Motherhood was an eventual destination for Low too. Though it was not an immediate priority, she knew she would eventually settle down with a family of her own. 'I am still pretty new to this whole journey. It has been a real roller coaster, every day is a new adventure. It is one of those things you do not fully understand until you experience it yourself. Now, I cannot imagine life any other way,' shared the mother of five months. Shattering unrealistic expectations That said, nothing could prepare them for what was ahead. Before her pregnancy, Abby had assumed motherhood to be a bed of roses due to the various movie depictions. Considering how it was unrealistically depicted on screen, she assumed she would be able to juggle her responsibilities as a mother and her job effortlessly. 'I was wrong. My breast feeding journey? It was a wild ride! First, there is the feeding and then the crying. By the time I got a burp out of her, I was completely zonked out. 'And that whole 'get some rest when the baby sleeps' idea? Total myth! By the time I feed her and get her to burp, it is 30 minutes until the next feeding. It is like a never-ending cycle of chaos.' Low, too, had fallen for the unrealistic depictions. The 33-year-old assumed motherhood only consisted of adorable bonding moments. 'I thought it would be all about the cute moments and the bonding, which is definitely part of it. But I believe the sleepless nights, the constant juggling and the pressure to get everything right are also part of the journey.' Ayu, on the other hand, was given an intimidating view of motherhood. She was often told how her life would drastically change once she welcomed a child. 'I heard how taxing it can be. People told me how I would not get enough sleep, the rise in monetary commitment and how it would affect my physique.' Unavoidable changes Each of the mothers indeed had a set of difficulties to overcome. For most of her pregnancy, Abby was alone at home as her husband had moved abroad for work. Upon the announcement, he had found a better job opportunity in Dubai. 'It was tough, especially after delivering my daughter. I felt really down without him by my side. But with God being my strength and the support of my family and friends, I slowly started to overcome it.' Abby got back into her normal activities after her two months postpartum. 'Time was and still is my number one struggle. With a big family, it can be difficult to manage your time every day. You have to think about a lot of things. You have to care for them in various ways,' noted Ayu. 'As a freelancer, I am still finding it difficult to manage my work while taking care of my baby at home. It has been a bit of a struggle to keep up with deadlines and stay as productive as I used to,' expressed Low. Sacrifices pay off The fulfilment of motherhood, however, makes up for the sacrifices. Watching their children grow up has been the most joyful reward for all of them. 'Seeing my daughter thrive has been incredibly fulfilling. Each month brings new milestones and I love witnessing all her little achievements,' Abby contended. 'When my baby smiles at me or when she reaches out for me, these moments melt my heart every time. Watching her grow and discover new things is fulfilling and I love knowing I am there for her through it all,' shared Low. Experienced mother Ayu finds her tight-knit relationship with her children to be a highlight, in addition to witnessing how far they have come. 'My oldest does not live with me but still communicates with me regularly. Even for minor things such as picking outfits, they would video call me to get my opinion. These kinds of gestures bring me the most joy.' Take it slow Now that all of them are thriving mothers, gradual and empathetic growth is something they advised for young mothers. While perfection is tempting, they advised young mothers to experience motherhood one step at a time. 'I know how tough it can be. Some days, just getting out of the house feels like a monumental effort and that is okay. The fact that you are here, doing your best is what truly matters,' encouraged Abby. 'Do not be too hard on yourself. We all have our pace. It is okay to not have everything figured out. It is all about loving your little one, trusting your instincts and giving yourself grace along the way,' advised Low. 'It is not going to be an easy journey. Hence, practice self-care. When you love yourself, you will be able to love your children. It will benefit them tremendously,' Ayu said. Simple celebration As for their plans for Mother's Day, all three have nothing big planned, only looking at a casual celebration with their loved ones. 'I will be spending it with my baby, enjoying my first Mother's Day with her. Just some quiet moments together,' shared Abby. 'I am just going to take it as it comes. I am sure I will spend it with my daughter, soaking in the moments and hopefully get some rest if I am lucky,' expressed Low. As for Ayu, she will most likely get wishes from her children on Whatsapp and a simple dinner at her favourite restaurant.
New Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Ayu puts her studies first
SINGER Ayu Damit is bidding farewell to reality TV, stating she's prioritising her academic pursuits. "Enough is enough when it comes to reality TV programmes, because I simply don't have the time for that any more," says Ayu, 35, the former 'One in A Million Season 2' champion and 'Gegar Vaganza' finallist. She says she won't be participating in singing competitions for now. "My mission is to obtain a degree and embark on a career as a lecturer," Ayu said, adding that her husband supports her decision to focus on her studies and avoid the stress of reality TV. She recalls the demanding schedule of 'Gegar Vaganza'. "During my time on GV7, I suffered from migraines due to the overwhelming workload. "I've been through that intense process, and I've decided that it's time for me to step away from singing reality programmes." Ayu clarifies she's not retiring from singing altogether. "I've set a long-term goal for my artistic journey. By the time I reach 45, I envision myself living a quiet and peaceful life. "I don't see myself performing on stage at 60." She anticipates scaling back her involvement around that age to dedicate more time to business ventures and teaching. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Foundation in Creative Arts at the National Academy of Cultural Arts and Heritage (Aswara), Ayu plans to continue her studies. "After completing my degree at Aswara in two years, I intend to pursue a master's degree and potentially begin teaching. God willing, if all goes according to plan, I will continue my studies to the doctoral level." Before fully immersing herself in academia, Ayu will perform alongside Datin Alyah and Idayu in the upcoming music showcase, 'An Evening to Remember', in Putrajaya on June 21 and 22.
