A moment with Sunbearo

Text by Chiew Lin May
Photos by Seng Yen Wah & Chiew Lin May

​On January 10th, 2014 a six month old, male sun bear cub (Rescue No-37), was rescued from a Mini Zoo and Hot Springs in Tawau, South Eastern Sabah. Sunbearo arrived to BSBCC from Lok Kawi Zoo on the 10th of March 2014

Sunbearo was rescued by Sabah Widllife Department when he was just a little six months old. He was rescued from a pet trade.

Thin and dehydrated. His life at the Tawau Hot Spring was spent in a confinement cage. Like so many other rescued sun bears, his mother had been killed and he had been taken from the forest. Based on his teeth and malnourished appearance, it was likely he was being fed the wrong diet. His weight during the arrival was 11.6kg. Originally he was known as Tan Sri, which was the name of his owner from the Mini Zoo and Hot Spring in Tawau. Sunbearo is a special sun bear cub and has been adopted and re-named by Neways International (Australia) Pty. Huge thanks to the support from Neways International (Australia) Pty, which enables us to protect Sunbearo.
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In the tiny cage where he endured a lifetime of mistreatment and wrong diet that cause poor physical condition.

Sunbearo has a beautiful tiny crescent sun in the shape of a “V” on his chest! 
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During his arrival, Sunbearo has one of the beautiful tiny crescent suns with a “V” shape on his chest!

First taste of favourite papaya!

​He was placed into quarantine before being introduced to the other cubs of his own age.

This life of freedom is perfect for this little bear.

He seemed very fragile as his muscles were not strong due to his tiny size, and he was nervous when it came to climbing. The bear care team gives him and his friends a chance to play in their dens. He was given new enrichment toys and a healthy diet. 

After much love and care by our bear team, Sunbearo eventually learnt to adapt to a life of bear and slowly has pt the past behind him.

​He quickly adapted to his new home where he has become more trusting and relishes every fresh fruit. HONEY is not an exception!!

He quickly adapted to his new home where he became more trusting and relishing every fresh fruits. HONEY is not exception!!

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​On the 24th of April 2014, Sunbearo and Loki were integrated for the first time. 

On 24th April 2014, Sunbearo and Loki were integrating for the first time.

The two rescued sun bears were playing together like loving siblings.

The two rescued sun bears were playing together like loving siblings.

​He slowly started to build trust with the bears and learnt that bears can be great friends. Loki, Bintang, Montom, Susie2, Damai and Kala are Sunbearo’s bear play friends. They love playing with each other.

Big dens full of different types of enrichment where they will learn how to forage for food and climbing skills.

These enrichment activities are all designed to keep the rescued bears mentally stimulated.

Sunbearo will find her best pal, Loki to suckle for comfort and bear chat.

​He enjoys having friends to share freedom experiences with. Slowly, he has put his past behind him and is learning to be a wild bear again.
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A shining start to the day! On the 28th of December 2015, Sunbearo had finally overcome his fear and took his first step out on the forest soil. 

Experience as wild bear where he will making his way to the forest!

​It is a great pleasure to see the first glimpses of these rescued sun bears stepping out to forest for their first time! Sunbearo sniffed around the tall trees. 

Brave Sunbearo learning to climb tree branches at the BSBCC.

He immediately made friends and quickly ready to explore their his new homes as soon as possible.

It was delight that found Sunbearo climb up high into the tree canopy and forage for his food treats as if he had not care in the world.

Best day spend at the comfortable hammock.

​​He knew that he deserved a better chance to express his natural behavior and learn how to become a wild bear. 

He knows that he deserved better chance to express his natural behavior and learn become a wild bear.

​He is now outside foraging, climbing and enjoying himself. He loves the opportunity and uses all his senses to forage in the soil!

He is now outside foraging, climbing and enjoying himself. He loves the opportunity using all his senses to forage soil!

Sun bears are the arboreal bear and spend their time in trees. Sunbearo and Montom will immediately climb up and wrestle on top of the trees. 

Sun bears are the arboreal bear and spend their time in trees. Sunbearo and Montom will immediately climbing up and wrestling top of the tree.

​His long, sickle curved claws will help him in climbing trees and scraping off tree barks for termites. 

By using his long and sickle curved claws that will help in climb trees and scrape off tree barks for termites.

​He has a strong, close bond with Loki. Sunbearo and Loki can be found loving hanging out and spending time up in the trees, watching everything going on around them.

Sunbearo developed a very close bond with female bear Loki.

Sunbearo and Loki loves to play and climbs everyday in forest.

They love to explore and climb the highest trees!

​After four years of undergoing rehabilitation at our centre, Sunbearo has grown in size, skill and confidence. 

After four years undergoing rehabilitation at our centre, Sunbearo have grown in size, skill and confidence.

​He is a fussy eater.

Sunbearo is very interest in digging, sometimes for termites but often just for fun!

​If there are special sweet treats in the enclosure, Sunbearo usually hoovers everything up and licks every last bit of honey without wasting it! Around feeding time at the bear house, he can often be found growling for food. But most of all, he just loves foraging for extra protein.

If have special sweet treats at the enclosure, Sunbearo usually hovered everything up and licking every last bit of honey without wasted it!

He can often be found like to growl for food.

​In regards to nest building, we have not seen any tree nest building behavior from him. He will stay a while in a nest built by Loki or Damai.

In nest building, we have not found any tree nest building behavior from him. He will borrow to stay a while the nest build by Loki or Damai.

​Sunbearo is doing better and is enjoying life in a natural forest. 

Cheeky Sunbearo basking in the suns rays!

Sunbearo gazes skywards as he climbs to tree tops.

Sunbearo spends enjoying himself or relaxing in forest.

He shows off his impressive climbing skills!

He will be free to forage for food, explore and learn to live as wild bear.

Sunbearo is no longer alone. He able to play fight, learn survival skills and hang out together with other bears.

Thank you for helping to give bears like Sunbearo a second chance to live a happy and freedom bear life.

He is happy returned to the forest where he belongs.

Sunbearo is no longer alone. He able to play fight, learn survival skills and hang out together with other bears.

​It is amazing to see a sun bear that was literally suffering from pet trade now looking healthy, free from pain and enjoying life as a sun bear. Sun bears are threatened in Southeast Asia by rapid poaching, illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction. Please help us fight to free the bears from their major threats. The exploitation of the greed towards this little known bear species must end.