|
This morning we welcome students from the Oregon State University, United States. BSBCC Founder and CEO, Dr. Wong delivered a talk on sun bears, how BSBCC was set up and BSBCC's achievements. Then, everyone went for an exclusive tour at the sun bear observation area guided by Dr. Wong himself. It was also our honor to welcome Dr. Wendy Erb, Fulbright Scholar and biological anthropologist and also Shanon Phang from the US Embassy, Kuala Lumpur to BSBCC. Thank you all for visiting us and we hope everyone had a wonderful time learning about the sun bears today!        
1 Comment
Starting from 16th June - 20th June 2017, BSBCC Education team joining the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD); Kinabatangan district for the CEPA & CEPA Kit Programme. CEPA stands for the "Conservation, Education, Participation and Awareness" Programme is a platform to convey knowledge and create awareness on the importance of wetlands among its inhabitants. With the theme of environmental education, this programme aims to deliver message and spread the knowledge of biodiversity conservation among local communities and school kids. Three schools are selected along the Ramsar site in Kinabatangan area which are SK Tidung Tabin, SK Tundon Bohangin and SK Sri Ganda. Hopefully, with this programme we can help to enhance the community engagement in wildlife conservation in Sabah.  SK Tidung Tabin - Intern students from Sabah Forestry Department giving introduction about Ramsar site in Kinabatangan.  SK Tidung Tabin  SK Tidung Tabin - Ms. Noorzeelah from HUTAn-KOCP delivering her talk about orang-utan in Sabah.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Mr. SM Tukiman from the Royal Malaysia Police delivering his talk on drug abuse.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - School kids reading our bear profile.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Ms. Risnayati explaining the function of enrichment materials to the school kids.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Ms. Sharon showing a bear skull to the kids.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Intern student from UPM explaining about the Ramsar site.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Mr. Darwis from HUTAN-KOCP sharing his knowledge about the diet of orang-utan.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Royal Malaysia Police and RELA team.  SK Tidung Tabin, Kinabatangan - Thanks all for the participation in this programme.  SK Tundon Bohangin, Kinabatangan - Ms. Sharon showing a bear profile and sharing their background history to the Pre-school students.  SK Tundon Bohangin, Kinabatangan - Mr. Johry from Sabah Forestry Department sharing his information about Ramsar site to the school teachers.  SK Tundon Bohangin, Kinabatangan Sun bear talk from Ms. Risnayati.  SK Tundon Bohangin, Kinabatangan - Token of appreciation from Sabah Forestry Department to the Headmaster of SK Tundon Bohangin.  SK Tundon Bohangin, Kinabatangan - Group photo.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Ms. Risnayati introducing herself to the students before starting her talk on sun bear.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Interactive students while Ms. Risnayati deliver her talk on sun bear.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Mr. SM Tukiman from the Royal Malaysia Police having a Q&A session with the students and teachers after delivering his talk on drug abuse.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Mr. Adnan, Headmaster of SK Sri Ganda giving his appreciation speech to students and other organisations that involved.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Token of appreciation from Sabah Forestry Department to the Headmaster of SK Sri Ganda.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Token of appreciation from HUTAN-KOCP to the Headmaster of SK Sri Ganda .  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - Token of appreciation from BSBCC to the Headmaster of SK Sri Ganda.  SK Sri Ganda Kinabatangan - group photo session. Text by Chiew Lin May Photos by Tee Thye Lim and Chiew Lin May  It is beautiful ♥ The sun bear is the smallest and least studied of the eight bear species in the world. Unfortunately, the number of sun bears is declining. Their population has decreased by 30 percent over the past 30 years and they are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The causes for this decline are illegal poaching, illegal pet trade and habitat loss, putting their future in jeopardy.  The best thing you can do when survey for WILD sun bear signs in the deep of rainforest ! Our project of studying the wild sun bears in Tabin Wildlife Reserve has kicked off!! Currently Thye Lim is running the project for his masters at Sunway University, and he is conducting this study to estimate the population density of sun bear. The study will be conducted in the biggest forest reserve in Sabah (Latitude 5°12’51”N and Longitude 118° 43’11”E). Tabin Wildlife Reserve was gazetted in 1984. A total of twenty camera traps will be in use (Moultrie M-999i). One camera will be placed at each station. To increase the detection of sun bears, we set up camera traps along animal trails and on trees which had any signs of sun bears (e.g. claw marks), or on fig trees.  Finding sun bear sign  Collecting tree samples and data for those trees that found sun bear's claw mark  Collecting tree samples and data for those trees that found sun bear's claw mark  The team is setting up camera trap to detect presence of sun bear in Tabin Wildlife Reserve  The team is setting up camera trap to detect presence of sun bear in Tabin Wildlife Reserve  Collecting tree samples and data for those trees that found sun bear's claw mark  Collecting tree samples and data for those trees that found sun bear's claw mark Type of bear signs :  Claw marks  Claw marks  Claw marks  Claw marks  Tree- tears for termites  Diggings  Diggings  Yellow arrow showing the tree nest  Yellow arrow showing the tree nest  Amazing figs tree  Amazing figs tree  One of the most interesting geological features of Tabin Wildlife Reserve is the mud volcanoes  One of the most interesting geological features of Tabin Wildlife Reserve is the mud volcanoes  Nest of a female bearded pig that made of saplings and branches of shrubs This study is supported by the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA), Lancaster University (UK) and Sunway University (Malaysia). This is a collaborative project by Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and BSBCC. There are fantastic pictures which have been taken by camera traps during our sun bear study and we will keep you updated on more photos as they come!  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean sun bear (Helactos malayanus)  Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)  Sunda clouded leopard (Neofilis diardi bornensis)  Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor)  Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor)  Yellow muntjac (Muntiacus atherodes)  Bearded pig (Sus barbatus)  Grey Langur (Presbytis sabana)  Pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina)  Pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina)  Yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula)  Western tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus)  Thick-spined porcupine (Thecurus crassispinis)  Short-tailed mongoose (Urva brachyurus)  Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela)  Great argus (Argusianus argus)  Crested fire back (Lophura ignita) Text by Chiew Lin May Photos by Azzry Dusain, Tee Thye Lim, Seng Yen Wah and Chiew Lin May Without the BSBCC, many captive sun bears would still live in small cages without HOPE; without the BSBCC many people in the world still would not know there is a bear species called the sun bear – CEO & Founder, Dr. (Hon) Wong Siew Te, D.J.N  Poaching, pet trade and loss of habitat continue to pose a MAJOR threat to the survival of sun bears. Mother bears are often killed and their infants are sold in the illegal wildlife pet trade. Sun bears are very similar to humans - they cannot survive on their own without their mothers. It is tragic that sun bears are still being found orphaned. Sun bear populations have declined by more than 30% in the past 30 years, leaving the danger of imminent extinction in the wild a very real possibility.  Sun Bear continues to be a target for the demand in traditional medicine and exotic meat  " Sport hunting" pictures on Facebook!  " Sport hunting" pictures on Facebook!  Hunters posing with a slaughtered sun bear in Sarawak.  The carcass of an adult sun bear floating in Kinabatangan River, Sabah.  A sun bear carcass cut in half.  Protected animals online trade rampant in Malaysia  Sun bears caged for tourists entertainment - Trapped in solitary confinement and immensely stressed.  A bear was killed on the road of Durian Mas Dungun, Kelatan.  A sun bear was killed after it was knocked down by a car at Km358 of the East Coast Highway2 (LPT2) near an orchard.  Two men from Sabah were arrested by Malaysian authorities for trying to sell body parts of protected Malayan sun bears.  Sun bear population is already under serious threat from loss of the rainforest HOME due to agricultural development  Sun bear population is already under serious threat from loss of the rainforest HOME due to agricultural development The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre’s (BSBCC) CEO and Founder, Dr. Wong Siew Te has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to raise awareness and save the “forgotten bear species”. Wong founded the BSBCC in 2008 with the goal to conserve sun bears through a holistic approach that of improves the welfare of rescued sun bears, rehabilitation, education and research. Wong was one of the greatest sun bear conservationists.     The BSBCC has received 55 rescued sun bears since its foundation. Currently there are 44 rescued sun bears housed at the BSBCC. Sadly, we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of sun bears arriving at the centre in 2016. This trend is worrying as it shows that poaching is still going wild with rampant sale of sun bears or illegal bear bile medicine over websites and the numbers will continue to rise rapidly until drastic measures are taken to protect sun bears.  BSBCC started with 8 rescued sun bears in 2008, and now have 44 sun bears.  A one year old female sun bear cub Dodop had been kept illegally as house pet by residents in Singgaron village, Ranau district Sabah who had spent over one year in the smallest cage and arrived at BSBCC on June 2nd, 2016. It was found that the Dodop was missing all four of her milk canines.  A three months old female sun bear cub Tan-Tan was bought by a person with the purpose of rescuing her from being sold in the remote region of Paitan. Most of the bears arrived at our centre will have in different conditions- frightened, stress and with wounds common to bears rescued from pet trade.  Sika was found by a foreigner who travelled to the village of Sikalabaan, in Pensiangan district, located in the interior division of Sabah. A three months old female sun bear cub Sika was keeping in a chicken mesh cage as a pet. She was previously fed condense milk, fruits and cereal.  A lady decided to rescue an one years old male sun bear cub Nano when she saw Nano was kept in a small chicken mesh cage in Kota Marudu, north of Sabah. She purchased him from the seller for a price of RM1,500, with the purpose of saving his life. Nano was surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department and arrive at BSBCC on November 20, 2016.  Noah, a three months old sun bear cub was surrendered by a villager and was found roaming alone at a villager’s orchard without his mother .  Kina's owner claimed that Kina’s mother was crossing a road and got frightened then just ran away and left Kina behind. Kina was just a bear cub and had not even opened her eyes yet. Hence, her owner took Kina and kept her as pet for more than a year.  A three months old female sun bear cub was bought by someone in Kalabakan-Sapulut road nearby Maliau Basin with the intention of saving the cub then to be surrender to the Sabah Wildlife Department. Kala was emaciated, dehydrated and malnourished. She was very small with her weight was just 3 kg. BSBCC has been able to rehabilitate these orphaned sun bears after their years of trauma from being locked up in small cages and sold in the pet trade. Most of our bears have had an extremely difficult lives having witnessed the death of their mother, traumatic experiences through being sold as a pet, suffered unimaginable abuse, infected wounds and poor diet. Being taken away from all of that they had known...many will show stereotypical behavior and will growl in fear. This has all changed with the greatly appreciated help from Sabah Wildlife Department. They assist in providing care and medical treatment for rescued bears. Our rescued bears will receive round the clock care from our Bear care team by helping and encouraging the bears to build up their strength as well as learning to trust their cares.  Dr. Wong handling the rescued sun bear cub, Tan-Tan.  Many rescued sun bears has been spent caged and live in terrible conditions. We need to fighting to save them!!  The rescued bears will safely unloaded and getting settled into BSBCC quarantine. They will surely learn the delights of wild bear life.  Veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department will conduct a full physical examination health check for all the rescued bears in BSBCC.  Veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department will conduct a full physical examination health check for all the rescued bears in BSBCC. Enriching the lives of these rescued bears is an important part of bear management, which improves the bears’ lives by giving them a second chance to survive in the wild. We will make sure that the bears are having their choices and freedom. Little by little, after each rescued bear has passed their quarantine period, they will move on to the next step in the Bear house – a peaceful and safe place they have deserved all their life! Integrating with new friends, giving them access to forest enclosures for them to learn pertinent skills for survival and last but not least get them ready to be back into the WILD.  Bear care team always provide rescued sun bear with everything they needs to put the past behind them and look forward to a better life as wild bear.  The team not only prepares sweet treats, but also not forgets to provide them superb durable structure enrichment for our special care bears.  Working hard making enrichment for sun bears.  Hammock Amok Project for sun bears!! APE Malaysia is carrying over 600 kg of fire hoses to make a total of 55 fire hose enrichment items for 44 sun bears. Their efforts are making a difference!!  Integral to rescued bears' recovery from trauma, the team are constantly coming up with new idea to stimulate and encourage bear survival skills.  Lot of lovely bear arts from our wonderful volunteers!  A more natural environment will be providing for the bears so they have the chance to behave like the wild bear that they are.  Making enrichment to keep the bears physically and mentally stimulated, enriching their lives so that the bears can exhibit as many natural behaviours as possible. Each bear will introduce to new foods, toys, bear friend and environment.  We hope the bears will like the enrichment!!  We hope by building this ramp structure will help the rescued bears access freely to forest enclosure and allow them to live out the rest of their days free from pain and fear.  A variety of climbing structure to help the bears developing the skills and the strength they will need when they are eventually released back into the wild.  Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.  Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.  Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.  Walking sun bear cub in forest – the cub will learn what their mother will teach them- how to forage wild food, climbing tree top, building nest, avoid stranger and defense skills.  The rescued cub is under quarantine and is being given round the clock care by her surrogate mother.  Sun bear cubs requires round-the-clock care to help recovery.  The team will observe bear behaviour to ensure the bear have learn skills that they need before return to wild. The release candidates are chosen based on their age and survival skills. Even relishing every chop of fresh fruit, playing with their enrichment, roaming the forest, foraging for insects, inquisitive, exploring, snoozing, climbing trees, finding HONEY bees, enjoying the sunshine, tapping to check weak points of dead logs and building tree nests, play fighting with their fellow bears in the BSBCC. No more pain and letting go of the traumatic life – perhaps they are enjoying the smell of freedom !! Let look how our rescued sun bears learn become wild bear!!  Next step of the rehabilitation is access out to forest enclosure to encourage the rescued bears to forage and living in tree top as they would in the forest with their mothers.  Tan- Tan is such a cheeky sun bear. Slowly she learn and happy to leave her past life behind.  Enrichment will be given to rescue bears to reduce the suffering from serious stereotypic behaviours such as pacing, repetitive behavior of banging themselves against bars and obsessive licking.  Love all enrichment! Eat anything and everything till mouthful!  The fastest bear explore on the bamboo feeder enrichment!  Small steps on a long road to recovery.  Nano was settled down in quarantine and listening to the forest sound around him.  It was a little miracle!  Feeling of getting outside on a warm sun and summer day with free bars of their cages !!  A blessing!! Enjoy at the sun and sniffing the forest air.  Her eagerness to explore...  Polite Greeting from Sunbearo!  "The best enrichment for a captive sun bear is another sun bear"  Bintang is a bear that enjoys climbing trees, playing and wrestling with her friends.  Looks at their smile!!  Sun bear is arboreal bear! They loves spend most of their time in trees, where they forage fruits and build sleeping nest. So lots climbing skills through the forest canopy is needed when they are young.  Gasps with thirst in the shadow of the morning sun!  They have more than earned that take a nap under the sun.  Big smile from Susie!!  Beautiful smile that says " They really love their forest home!"  Sun bear is a very good in tree climbing.  Fulung was determined to make the best of the time to foraging wild food!!  Little Noah loves his first gift !!  Ah Lun love climbing tree with sitting on her favorite branch.  Chiiling in the pool !!  Dedicates her life to catching every bug, Ever!  With a fast flicking long tongue enable sun bear to reach into cavities in trees to eat their favourite food- termites and insects!  After a rough start to life...  She is an absolute sweetheart bear !  Bintang is making it clear to her bear fiend that she is ready to play!  Wonderful HOME they deserve!! - Rainforest  Snooze away beautiful bear!  The bears foraging forest floor in search of beetles, termites and invertebrates.  Damai is spending more time by herself, foraging more in areas away from other sun bear friends.  Sun bear's sharp claws and long tongues make them adapt at reaching into dead tree to locate food.  It is very encouraging that Tan -Tan is developing these forest skills by herself where she is proving that she has many suitable skills to be released in the future.  In their heart of hearts, they really just want peaceful and forest life! No hunting please!  It is wonderful to observe that arboreal and tree climbing behaviour is such a strong instinct for these sun bears.  So delicious! Enjoyed their first ever BEST treat!!  Susie cannot keep her eyes off anything and everything - especially when it comes to food.  Most of you still remember Mary, a two months old sun bear cub that she was held captive in a cage as pet. She was found to be very malnourished when she first came to BSBCC because her previous owner did not fed her with milk. Her growth stunted and walking in an abnormal way. Now, Mary has improved a lot where every day for her is a treat of good food, friend and freedom.  Boboy is one of the most curious sun bear and he will enthusiasm on lookout for new adventures in forest.  Clearly loving their special LIFE!  Clearly loving their special LIFE!  Just the best!! Damai loves hugs from her best friend Bintang.  Forget about it for minutes in sun, and dreaming about having some Honey!  See how Kitud thinking of the real bear world?  So good!! Can focus with sunbathing time!  "Likes forest soil better than lock inside the small cage!" - Kala  So much to tell !! A huge thanks to you all rescue and save the smallest bear!  On May 16, 2015 the first rehabilitated sun bear (Natalie, a five years old adult female sun bear) returns to the WILD.  On July 24, 2016 second rehabilitated sun bear (Lawa, a nine years old adult female sun bear) returns to the WILD. Every individual sun bear at BSBCC has their own personality. They are growing independent every day. Strong characters like Amaco, Diana, Tan-Tan, Wawa and Nano have emerged. Slowly the rescued bears realize with their new life that they are now in a different, safer, healthier, and happier bear world which is their own. For example: Tan-Tan is the holder of the record breaking all records among all sun bear cubs we have had so far: At six months old she could construct a little nest in the tree using broken twigs and leaves. It was truly amazing to see!   Besides that, due to the emotional trauma that resulted from his being kept as pet, Nano was very stressed and in pain. After one year, Nano finally has reduced his stereotypical behavior by spending more time with his bear friend, Noah. He is on the road to recovery. We tear up just thinking how Nano has finally overcome his fear...     Sun bears are beautiful animals in nature. They deserve the chance to go back to the deep forest and to become a WILD bear. We all have two things that the sun bears do not, which is a voice and freedom. Please use your voice to help them and stop the hunting or killing of sun bears, we can make a difference to their future survival. Together we must save the sun bears! 
On behalf of our rescued bears, a big bark THANKS to Wong, our supporters, funders, volunteers, friends and bear care team for taking care, supporting and loving them! Text and Photos by Ong Yu Qi Ong Yu Qi. 1999. Penang, Malaysia. First and foremost, I would like to thank BSBCC for giving me a chance to be a volunteer at the centre for three weeks (19/3-8/4), I consider it as the best thing I’ve experienced so far in 2017. Back to 2016, my family and I were watching a TV show that was featuring BSBCC in one of the episodes and it was that day that I got to know about BSBCC and I was impressed with all the work that BSBCC have done. I then decided to volunteer at BSBCC after finishing my SPM to gain knowledge about wildlife conservation and to learn more about sun bears. After going through the application process and an interview, I got an email from BSBCC on 12th of February informing me that I’m IN for the volunteer programme! :D Every morning after breakfast at the volunteer house Bjorn Hala (Meaning: Bear Den in Swedish), we will take off at 7:30am to the centre and start to work at 8:00am. For the morning session, one will either be at the bear house cleaning cages or at the kitchen preparing food for the bears. I admit cleaning cages wasn’t a fun thing to do, but I always had that distinct sense of achievement after cleaning them! On the other hand, working in the kitchen is less tough but there are a lot of things to do because everything that is needed for a balanced sun bear diet is done here. Some days, one will go for fence check to ensure the fences are clear from leaves, and stems from climbing plants because the voltage of the electric fence will be affected if there are foreign objects attached to it. Volunteers would had a chance to feed the bears too (without having contact with the bears of course) We feed them four times a day, two times porridge, two times fruits & vegetables.  A selfie with Dr.Wong while we were preparing the porridge  Porridge for the sun bears  Fruits, tools and me  Snakeskin fruit  Scatter feeding  A glimpse of the kitchen  My last day of cleaning the cages. (Fun fact: The first cage that I cleaned was Simone’s, and the same goes for the last cage that I cleaned! :’) ) In the afternoon, we make enrichments for the bears. Enrichments are very crucial in the rehabilitation process of the bears as they can encourage their natural bear behaviours and boost their emotional health. (Bears can be bored and need something to play too!) In these couple of weeks, I’ve made nest balls, stick paradox, bamboo feeders, ice blocks and so on, not forgetting a hammock for my favourite sun bear - Simone!  Ginger leaves that are used in enrichments  A bamboo feeder  Stick paradox  Collecting some banana leaves  Testing out the hammock for Simone! I must give credit to the Bear Care Team for helping me in the ‘creation’ of this Telur Itik Char Koay Teow Hammock, especially my buddy - Azzry (top left) And there’s Lin May (bottom left), Dempsy and Brandon! There were also some days, we got to have sessions with Dr. Wong. He was so patient to answer whatever questions we had about the sun bears, the centre, on his life and so much more. Thank you Dr. Wong for delivering so much information to the volunteers and interns despite your busy life!  Don’t get me started on how amazing the people are! Everyone is willing to help, listen and answer. When I first got here, I was shy, quite nervous about meeting new people and kind of not used to being far away from my parents without any friends but everyone was so friendly and affable, I found my feet in no time. I would like to thank all of the BSBCC staffs (especially the Bear Care Team) and people that I’ve met along the way, and of course, Dr. Wong Siew Te for all the little and big ways you all have pitched in ♥ . The sun bears are extremely lucky to have such passionate, committed and selfless people as their “moms” and “dads”. I’ll never forget the days we went out for dinner, grocery shopping and movies, not to mention the splendid home cooked dinner we had at Dr.Wong’s house!  Us enjoying the food that Dr.Wong had cooked! Furthermore, I learned a lot about the importance of a balanced ecosystem and the role humans play to protect it for our future generations. It’s sad to think about the fact that a lot of Malaysians don’t know about the existence of sun bears in this country and their vulnerability, it seems like people only know about giant pandas and polar bears when it comes to endangered bear species. These beautiful and precious creatures need to be protected and cherished, I hereby urge everyone (especially Malaysians) to find out more about sun bears by volunteering at BSBCC! In a nutshell, my volunteer experience at BSBCC wasn’t a far cry from what I had expected - positive vibes, amiable people & lots of new things to learn every day! Truth be told, I’m proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and took up this challenge at the age of 18. The things that I’ve learned, the stories that I’ve heard, has empowered me to become stronger mentally and physically. I didn’t know that I’m capable of all of this until I’ve done it and I’m very grateful to have a experience like this to widen my horizon before my next big challenge - college. New things that I’ve experienced during this period of time: -Using tools that I didn’t use before, namely,jigsaws & power drills -I had the chance to talk to foreign and local visitors about the sun bears (sun bear facts and their vulnerability) -First trip alone to an unfamiliar place far away from home (first time in East Malaysia too!) -Made new friends and got the chance to speak in languages other than Chinese (growing up in a Chinese family, owning 99% Chinese friends, I never really got opportunities to speak in other languages) I learned some Sabah slangs too ;P I’m certain that I will be back because I want to… -Experience more! (three weeks was too short, I didn’t even have the chance to go to an outreach programme which travels to schools to raise awareness about sun bears) -Meet these amazing people again -Help and learn more and more about sun bears!!!  A tractor millipede chillin’ on my fingers hehe    Lots of love,
Yu Qi Text by Chiew Lin May Photos by Seng Yen Wah & Chiew Lin May  Busy. Think. Learn. Find out. Enjoy Over the past few days (31 May till 4 June 2017), our wonderful students from University of Minnesota have been hard work helping on the maintenance of the forest enclosures and facilities, assisting bear care keepers on cleaning bear dens, food preparation and making or loading enrichment for bears! From this enrichment sun bears can build their natural behavior. Check out our lovely sun bears extremely grateful and figure out how to get into the treats on their new enrichment.  Let’s begin the day!  BSBCC CEO & Founder, Dr. Wong giving a lecture to the Minnesota University students on sun bear biology and ecology, highlight the sun bear conservation issues, roles of BSBCC to conservation and figs as keystone species.  BSBCC CEO & Founder, Dr. Wong giving a lecture to the Minnesota University students on sun bear biology and ecology, highlight the sun bear conservation issues, roles of BSBCC to conservation and figs as keystone species.  A simple briefing about work task by Professor Dawn Tanner.  Andy, our bear care staff show the Minnesota University students how to getting into and LOVE the work of cleaning the tall grass and bushy area.  Work start with maintaining visitor walkway.  Work start with maintaining visitor walkway.  Work start with maintaining visitor walkway.  Work start with maintaining visitor walkway.  It will be sunny and prefect day to help with forest enclosure maintenance.  It will be sunny and prefect day to help with forest enclosure maintenance.  Just to get their hands dirty!  Just to get their hands dirty!  Just to get their hands dirty!  Just to get their hands dirty!  We love being involved in maintaining enclosure.  Contributing to providing safe and secure enclosure for rescued sun bears.  Azzry, our bear care keeper shows Minnesota University students to create enrichment by using their own creativity.  Enrichment treats being prepared by Minnesota University students for the sun bears at BSBCC!  Collecting Bamboo time!!  Collecting dried leaves for bear bedding!  Collecting dried leaves for bear bedding!  Collecting enrichment materials.  Collecting enrichment materials.  Collecting enrichment materials.  This is prefect for the bears!!  This is prefect for the bears!!  Knowing sun bears are destroyer. Students are to make some incredibly high quality and difficult enrichment to bears.  Yummy!! Fire Hose Pocket filled with green leaves + Honey + Peanut butter!  The inside bamboo feeder, stick paradox, nest ball and ginger proposal enrichment contains varieties of sun bear favourite treat – peanut butter, bananas, edible leaves, twigs and of course HONEY!  Log Puzzle filled with peanut butter and green leaves.  Sun bear have incredible sense of smell so students tried sensory enrichment items filled with favourite foods for them.  Minnesota University students spend hours putting together bamboo feeder.  Happy enrichment filled with peanut butter!  This is hard for me - Manual drill!!  Creative way of designing enrichment.  Focus in washing fire hose pocket!  Making some secret recipe for bear enrichment!  Ahhhhhhh, life is good – sniffing honey!  This enrichment is a great way to keep our bears stay active all day long and happy.  Ready to give to the rescued sun bears !  So much fun working by having together joking around!  Minnesota University students have been working hard to mass produce the enrichment for rescued bears.  Minnesota University students are extremely proud of their own design of the enrichment they have made.  Catch this adorable photo!  Sun bear show curiosity by using extremely acute sense of smell at the enrichment.  Boboi bear is always up to something – especially with enrichment.  Just prefect for the bears to snuffle around and seek out for treats.  More enriching!!  Awesome!! The bear spent very long time explores the enrichment.  Curious Dodop tries out her Ginger proposal which was specially designed by students.  Showing so touchingly how these bears can put their terrible pasts behind them and rediscover their natural behaviour.  This dead wood has been tearing up by bear cubs looking for grubs as protein snack. More good wild behavior! Way to go, little Noah and Nano!!  This dead wood has been tearing up by bear cubs looking for grubs as protein snack. More good wild behavior! Way to go, little Noah and Nano!!  Breaking into log in search of insects.  Breaking into log in search of insects  The students hugely grateful our lovely bears enjoy the enrichment treats immensely!  Amazing to work alongside with enthusiastic Minnesota University students which helping to make a difference to sun bears lives.  Amazing to work alongside with enthusiastic Minnesota University students which helping to make a difference to sun bears lives.  Looks at those smiling faces!  Our sun bears will happily playing and explores the enrichment students had make for them.  Bear house induction done by Azzry.  Assisting bear keepers in providing daily husbandry care for the 44 rescued bears in BSBCC.  Hopefully the bears will love and live comfortable with the cleanness dens.  Food preparation induction brief by Thye Lim.  Chop! Chop! Chop fruits time!!  Chop! Chop! Chop fruits time!!  Delish foods….  The hot weather making these guys have been sweating it out. But the good things are they want to make sure the bears will have a good and happy time!  The bears are waiting for fruits!  Professor Dawn happy to help out in food preparation. Big thanks Prof. !  Scatter feeding around the forest enclosure to encourage bears foraging behaviour.  Scatter feeding around the forest enclosure to encourage bears foraging behaviour.  Kitud loves her food and seems to get just as excited.  The happiness that they saw on the bear face today. Party time at BSBCC!! Minnesota students together with Dr.Wong are cooking together.  A big Tuna fish is served for the party!  Dr.Wong is having a cooking class.  Dr.Wong is teaching how to make a delicious malay cuisine, Curry!  Hello, Girl's Group here!!  I can be a good chef like Dr.Wong as well. - Don  I hope I can have one more plate of Char Kuey Teow. - Mai  Dr. Wong has dedicated his life to to save "the forgotten bear" but also not to forget he is a GREAT chef!!  Learner, Don and Master Chef, Dr.Wong  Make sure the fish is marinate well, put some seasoning and more love.  The student is helping to wrap the fish nicely and slowly.  Mizuno and Andy are in charge of the Seafood Barbecue.  Party time and Selfie time!!  Famous Penang Char Kuey Toew cook by Wong!  The delicious curry made us mouth watering.  Say cheese time!! The bears bark a BIG THANKS!! They deserve the love and care they get from you. A loud cheer for all your efforts! Big thanks to you all for tireless work and giving support to improve the lives of these rescued bears – You are brighten up their chance where bears can live freely where they belong – WILD !! Great work everyone ! Keep it up ! |
Archives
October 2020
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Have a question or comment? We welcome all enquiries, so please get in touch from any of the methods below:
|
|
Write to us at our
Postal Address BSBCC,
PPM 219, Elopura, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia |
Contact us on our
Facebook, Twitter |
