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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!        
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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 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 ! |
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