Jo Leen's story

Jo Leen Yap's connection to Penang's wildlife began in her childhood. Today, she leads Langur Project Penang (LPP), supported by The Rufford Foundation, not just to conserve primates, but to weave communities into the fabric of urban biodiversity conservation. She believes human spaces can be havens for nature, not just concrete jungles.

Her work extends beyond research – it's about building bridges, both for urban wildlife like dusky langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus) and for a shared future between people and wildlife. Each canopy bridge and shared story fosters understanding. She empowers communities to become active guardians through citizen science and education, collaborating with local authorities and scientists to drive sustainable change. Her passion is to demonstrate that with compassion, understanding and action, we can share our spaces with our wildlife neighbours.