Who We Are?

Ravinder Kaur is a graduate from University Malaysia Sabah with a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and a Masters of Science in Ecology. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at University Malaya in the field of Ecology. Ravinder has always had an affinity towards animals. She is compelled to help wildlife, to prevent extinction of some of the most enigmatic beings in Malaysia. When British Council Malaysia held the “Entrepreneurs for Good” Social Enterprise awards, Ravinder Kaur was one of the many shortlisted in this endeavour.

She was fortunate to attend many training sessions and decided to set up a Social Enterprise called Explore Gaia Enterprise. Gaia is the name of a Greek goddess, and it means Earth. Gaia is dedicated to wildlife conservation in Malaysia, and at the moment focuses on the conservation of hornbills. The Enterprise is also dedicated to increase awareness and appreciation of wildlife in Malaysia. In addition, Ravinder is an active member of the ‘Helmeted Hornbill Working Group’ – a collaborative effort to conserve critically endangered Helmeted Hornbill. She is also a council member for NGO MareCet (marine mammal research and conservation).

Previous/On-going Conservation projects:

• Kinabatangan Hornbill Conservation Project (2014-ongoing)
• Malaysian Nature Society Hornbill Conservation Project (2008-2009)
• Conservation of Rafflesia flowers and Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly in Ulu Geroh through ecotourism (2006-2009)

Publications:

• Freelance writer for the National Geographic Explorer, The Expat, Senses of Malaysia, Pet’s Lover and DSLR magazine.
• Forest Research Institute Malaysia Coffee Table Book, Rimba Bidor.
• Kaur, R., Ong, T., K.C, Lim., C.A, Yeap. 2011. A Survey On Mass Movements Of The Vulnerable Plain-Pouched Hornbill In The Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, Peninsular Malaysia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 24:171-176.
• Kaur, R., Singh, S., A.H, Ahmad. 2015. The breeding biology of the Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbill Rhinoplax vigil in the Temengor Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia.
• Kaur, R., Singh, S., Ramli, R., Hassan, H., Majinun, A., Ancrenaz, M., Ratag, M., Rauf, H. A., Jamal, J., Rauf, A. S. A., Yunus, M. D. M., Arbani, M. A., Asmar, K. & Amir, M. A. 2018. Observations at a nest of Helmeted Hornbill Rhinoplax vigil in Borneo, Malaysia. Forktail, 34, 68-73.