This is the very concern conservationists have been warning everyone about, and working to prevent.

But did you know that two mums are doing the same? Not with research papers, but with a cast of adorable jungle characters.

In 2017, Abyan Junus-Nishizawa and Farah Landemaine founded “Anak Rimba Books” (children of the forest), to introduce young readers to the wonders of the country’s wildlife.

“Our mission is simple – to nurture the next generation of children who will care for our planet,” Abyan told FMT Lifestyle.

The duo’s storybooks feature various endangered species like the sea turtle, and dusky leaf monkey as main characters, each adventure carrying a gentle message about conservation.

“We started with a story about the tapir, then followed with one on the Sumatran rhino, which sadly is now extinct in Malaysia,” Abyan recalled. “We even wrote ‘My Midnight Flora’ during Covid-19, when people really hated bats.”

Over the years, “Anak Rimba Books” has released seven titles, their latest titled “Seefa’s Journey Home” featuring a young turtle.

Although these books are centred around wildlife, Farah said that at its core, the tales are about human experiences.

One of their books, “Why Don’t I Look Like You?”, follows Little Timo the baby tapir as he learns to embrace what makes him different, a story that has resonated with children with special needs.

Each book is beautifully illustrated and educational, with part of the proceeds going towards conservation projects. The duo has also worked with NGOs and social businesses to promote wildlife awareness.

The extinction of the Sumatran rhino remains a defining moment for the duo. “When we wrote our book about the rhino, there were only two left in the wild here,” said Farah.

“By the time the book came out, both had died. That was a real wake-up call for us. We realised we might have written the last story about them,” she added.

Their books have since gone global, translated into Malay, Spanish, and French.

After first crossing paths in 2015 in Indonesia, where they both lived at the time, the two mums have come a long way.

Encouraged by fans and young readers, Abyan and Farah brought their characters to life through animation. With guidance from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), they took the bold leap into production.

“In 2019 we won our first development grant from MDEC,” said Farah. “We were really proud to be chosen. During our pitch, the panellists were so critical that we left thinking we wouldn’t get it! But later, one of them told us their child couldn’t stop reading our books.”

With MDEC’s support, they partnered with an international team that included Bafta-nominated writer Steve Middleton and head writer Sara Daddy of the Irish series “Puffin Rock”.

The result was “The Rimba Friends”, a 13-episode animated series that premiered on Durioo+ on Sept 13, and recently on MYTV.

The show follows five forest friends: Timo the tapir, Teega the tiger, Ronda the rhino, Eka the elephant, and Ona the orangutan. Guided by Mama Tapir, they explore their rainforest school, learning about friendship, kindness, and the natural world.

Through The Rimba Friends, children are also introduced to animal facts and possible careers as marine biologists and wildlife filmmakers.

“Malaysia has always been known for our food and culture, but why not for our nature?” Farah said.

“We have incredible biodiversity and three Unesco Biosphere Reserves – yet people from National Geographic talk more about it than we do!” she added.

Seeing their characters come to life on screen has been an emotional journey.

“When we first watched the animation, we were so proud,” said Abyan. “Many of our earliest readers, who are now around 10 years old, can still recognise the characters.”

As mothers, both understand the challenge of finding meaningful content for children today.

“There isn’t much out there with heart,” Abyan admitted. “That’s why we made sure ‘The Rimba Friends’ has soul, it’s not just entertainment; there’s a mission behind it.”

Watch ‘The Rimba Friends’ on Durioo+ and MYTV.

Find out more about ‘Anak Rimba Books’ on their website.