Sun bear conservation blog

Ah Bui, the friend to be

31/1/2018

Text & Photos by Chiew Lin May

A sub adult, female sun bear was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) on 2nd May, 2012. She was named Ah Bui (Rescue No. 30), which means “friend” in local Murut language. Ah Bui came to the BSBCC on the 4th of May 2012, when she was two years old. She was originally from Sook village, Keningau. Ah Bui was kept by a person who almost sold her for the purpose of removing her gall bladder.

Sun bear Ah Bui who arrive at BSBCC on 4th May 2012 who rescued from sold as bear bile

Imagine if we were late to rescue her, she would have become starved and wounded which would have caused terrible pain. Sun bears are hunted or killed in the wild to remove their gall bladder. Bear bile is used in traditional Asian medicine which can be useful for treating liver and gall bladder illnesses. Initial health checks showed her in good health with a weight of 25kg.

One of the primary goals of BSBCC is to conserve sun bears through creating the capacity to rehabilitate and release suitable orphaned and ex-captive bears back into the wild. Ah Bui has been given a second chance to survive in the wild. BSBCC enables rescued sun bear to live their life peacefully with the best of care. After 30 days of quarantine, free from pain, vet care and nutrition care, she had adjusted very well to life at the centre.

It's a real pleasure to see her well adapted and enjoying herself in the new environment at bear house

On 4th July 2012, Ah Bui finally met her first bear friend, Debbie. The close relationship formed among Ah Bui, Debbie and Fulung has lasted to this day.

She is saying hello to her bear pals!

Gentle loving Ah Bui play fight style!!

Our rescued sun bears have access to the forest enclosure where they have tall trees to climb, a pool to cool off in, and iron wood to nap on. But when the rescued bears have stayed in a tiny cage for many years where they lost the chance to experience simple things from the natural world, it can be challenging for them to step out to the forest.

What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another. -Mahatma Gandhi

It requires considerable time and expense to restore the wild behavior of sun bears that have been victims of the illegal pet trade.

On 11th June 2013, Ah Bui and her friends took a huge step out to the door for her first glimpse of tall trees and to sniff the air! Slowly, she started with digging and turning dead wood to look for termites.

Something never, ever, experienced before. Tall trees!!

Thank you for the years of love, freedom and happiness!

Ah Bui loves digging soil and keep her busy all the time

Ah Bui and her friends are well suited to their environment. Her short hair allows her to survive in the tropical forest. She enthusiastically destroys anything.

Ah Bui exploring its habitat. She loved every bit of it!

She is exciting experience of getting to know the real tropical rainforest!

She was too thrilled with her extra treat- Termites!

Slurp up all the termites!

Sometimes she appears to be basking in the sun on a fallen decayed tree, absorbing the warmth of the sun’s rays. She is more than happy to lay around. She learns many of the forest skills that she would have naturally learned from her mother.

She loves to sleep in the warm sun

She adapting really well to her new environment

Time to take nap!!

Ah Bui feels more comfortable taking a snooze in this beautiful forest

Ah Bui is a skillful climber, aided by long sickle-shaped claws that help her climb to the top of the tree canopy. She now very much enjoys climbing trees and has gained a lot of confidence and independence! She has been recorded to climb over to other forest enclosures through the trees five times!

Ah Bui is so arboreal bear. In the forest, she spend a lot of her time tearing tree bark to get honey, resting and sleeping on tree canopy

Ah Bui have long and curved sharp claws that help her in climb trees and scrape off tree barks for grubs!

Climb into the tree canopy! Ah Bui climbing a 15 meters tree.

Tree climbing Ah Bui

Sun bear plays a vital role in seed dispersal, forest doctor and forest engineer in maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem

Ah Bui also loves to climb high up and build a prefect sleeping nest.

Beautiful tree nest build by Ah Bui on 10 metres high! She just broke the branches and turned in into a nest

She is learning and experiencing that life can be great! She is well enough to go outside and enjoy every minute of every day. She enjoys the sheer pleasure of being alive.

How much I love forest and play wrestle with my favourite friends!

Free access to swimming at pool! She is SO HAPPY with the freedom

Forage together!!

Aww...cheesy in my favourite dead log

Time to take nap!!

Sharing bear chat time with Debbie!

The best kind of breakfast!

Time to take nap!!

Ah Bui have a beautiful symmetrical chest mark which looks more like a necklace

She is beautiful bright bear what a big happy smile!

When Ah Bui taking nap time, she loves to put some small pillow (pile millipede, leaves or branches) on her belly!!

We can ensure that Ah Bui is ready for reintroduction. Ah Bui is healthy and she has developed her survival skills and wild behavior to equip her for life in the forest. It is always great to see our rescued sun bears back in the forest where they belong.