Bogor, Indonesia – 21 August 2025. SEAMEO BIOTROP proudly introduces SEMO as its official mascot, chosen as the first-place winner of the Mascot Design Competition: Guardian of Biodiversity held from July to August 2025. The competition was designed to engage creative minds across Southeast Asia in raising awareness about tropical biodiversity conservation through visual storytelling.

The event attracted 113 submissions from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. After an initial screening, ten finalists were shortlisted based on originality, thematic relevance, visual aesthetics, and educational value. Final judging combined the evaluation of experts and public voting on SEAMEO BIOTROP’s Instagram account.

At the awarding stage, SEMO, designed as a superhero tiger embodying tropical forest elements, was declared the first winner. The second winner was Pippo, created by Christian Ortega from the Philippines, while the Favorite Award went to Rakumi from Indonesia, which garnered more than 500 likes during the public voting.

The panel of judges brought together diverse expertise. Dr. Agung Eko Budiwaspada, a lecturer in Visual Communication Design at Institut Teknologi Bandung, contributed his insights on creative media and branding. Giant Tahta Pahlawan, founder of Brandigial.id, emphasized brand strategy and marketing communication. Anang Ristanto, Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and Cooperation at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of Indonesia, provided perspectives on education policy and public engagement. Their combined evaluation ensured that the winning mascots reflected both artistic excellence and strong conservation messages.

Through SEMO, SEAMEO BIOTROP strengthens its identity as a champion of biodiversity conservation. The mascot will not only symbolize protection of tropical biodiversity but also serve as an ambassador for educational and outreach programs, making conservation messages more accessible and engaging for youth and communities across the region. (hcn)