Jo Leen's background
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Born and bred in Penang, Malaysia, Jo Leen went on to do her first degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand which equipped her with a broad range of scientific knowledge and analytical skills essential for environmental research. It was there that she witnessed the environmental awareness and community conservation responsibility which would inspire her to get involved in wildlife conservation after her graduation in 2011.
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Back home in Malaysia, she began her career as a Scientific and Education Officer at the Dark Cave Conservation Site, Batu Caves, a job which included conducting educational and adventure tours for students and tourists, as well as monitoring the cave's microclimate and fauna, sparking off a passion for science communication and research.
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She subsequently volunteered with DGFC wildlife researchers to assist and learn from the researchers who study the Bornean Sunbear, Slow Loris, Tarsier, Proboscis Monkey, and Bornean Banteng which she regards as an experience she will never forget and which created a valuable network of connections with conservation mentors and researchers that she values to this day.
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One of her formative experiences was working as an Environmental Educationist at Tropical Spice Garden (TSG), Teluk Bahang, Penang, in 2013 where she developed and implemented environmental education programmes such as children's rainforest camps, environmental campaigns, and the first night walk tour in Penang, honing her communication and collaborative skills in the process.
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Having developed a deep affection for the dusky langurs observed in the gardens, she decided to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Zoology in 2022 at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) under the supervision of Dr. Nadine Ruppert of . The project was focused on the behavioural ecology and conservation management of Dusky Langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus) in Penang, Malaysia.
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Her background and training has provided Jo Leen with a deep understanding of primate behaviour, citizen science, and conservation strategies and equipped her to eventually set up her own primate conservation enterprise, the Langur Project Penang Hub (LPP), with the goal of encouraging coexistence between humans and monkeys in an urban landscape.
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In a short space of time, LPP and Jo Leen have won numerous awards to fund her work, such as the Biji Alam Award, the Gamuda Inspiration award, Malaysia Nature Society Young Researcher Fund, the Star Golden Heart Award, the Habitat Foundation Grant, the Rufford Foundation Small Grants, the CIMB Islamic Grant, the NAAEE Changemaker Grant, Animal Protection Denmark, and the Disney Conservation Grant.
Jo Leen describes what work is like running LPP:
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“Langur Project Penang Hub (LPP) promotes coexistence between humans and urban monkeys through citizen science-based field research, conservation (road canopy bridge), environmental education, and capacity building. LPP has made significant changes in creating a more harmonious environment for both humans and monkeys.
Some of the many Malaysian stakeholders my team and I work closely with are the assemblymen, PERHUTANAN, PERHILITAN, JKR, city councils, resident associations, NGOs, schools, tourist guides, eco-tourism sites and various community groups, ranging from orchard and plantation farmers to residents living close to the hillsides and homeschool groups in Malaysia.
As a wildlife researcher and environmental educator at LPP, I not only lead and coordinate the community conservation projects under our project, I’m also a member of international conservation organisations, such as The Long-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Project, Macaque Coalition (MACC), IUCN Human-Primate Interactions Specialist Group, and an alumni of the North America Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE). LPP collaborates with these organisations on research collaboration projects, as well as the development of databases and guidelines for road canopy bridge installation and human-urban monkey coexistence.”
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A vital part of her work involves policy and legislation shaping in Penang state. To aid the process, Jo Leen volunteered to serve as an advisor for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which required input and ideas about primate conservation and urban biodiversity.
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“During the 2016 forum on the proposed paired road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, Penang, I personally advocated for the conservation of dusky langur. Subsequently, the developer (Consortium Zenith) and the designated environmental planner invited me, along with other experts and state government representatives, to attend an EIA report discussion. It was a valuable experience that taught me the importance of producing an inclusive and sustainable EIA assessment. I also helped to contribute inputs for the Draf Tempatan Pulau Pinang 2030 (Pulau)/Penang Island Local Plan 2030. In 2020, the environmental planner from AJM Planning and Urban Landscape Group Sdn. Bhd contacted me to explore the potential of incorporating the installation of road canopy bridges in different areas of Penang Island. In 2022, AJM Planning and Urban Landscape Group Sdn. Bhd published the local plan, which included the LPP road canopy bridge case study.”
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The story of LPP is also featured on BBC Primates in 2020, BBC My Place on Earth in 2021, and on the National Documentary, The Conservationist, in 2022.
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“My years of experience in science communication and environmental education have greatly aided me in my role as a wildlife researcher, allowing me to seamlessly integrate my scientific work with education while also passing the torch to mentor and nurture the next generation of young conservationists. In Langur Project Penang Hub (LPP), I hope I could lead my team of citizen scientists to continue empowering and inspiring the upcoming generation to expand the work of urban biodiversity conservation.
The ultimate aim is to foster a better tolerance, understanding, and empathetic society where we can all work together to fight the extinction of native species and create a more peaceful world for all.” Dr. Yap jo Leen.
Jo Leen is also a trained science communicator and public speaker, having been a certified Malaysian Regional Nature Guide since 2017. She has presented at TEDx Petaling Jaya: Unlearn, Relearn in 2019 and is the first Malaysian to have received the Environmental Educator 30 Under 30 Award from the North American Association for Environmental Education in 2018.