Text by Chung Chyi Wei
Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah

​Hello, I’m Chyi Wei, a postgraduate student in sensor technology at Cambridge University; hence, the two weeks I spent volunteering at BSBCC was very different to my usual discipline and offered an interesting insight into animal conservation. Moreover, as a Sabahan living abroad, it was a nice reintroduction to the unique local culture and people. 

​            Working in the bear house makes apparent the care, effort and planning that go into the centre—the meticulousness and intricacy of which are definitely overlooked from a visitor’s experience alone.  It was fascinating to listen to the team describe each bear in anthropomorphic traits (my particular favourite is the severity of forehead wrinkles to tell between Julaini, Rungus and Ah Lun), and to learn of the harrowing stories of their past. Daily work consists of feeding the bears (four times a day), cleaning cages, preparing food and enrichment activities; morning tasks are allocated on a rota basis, so there is something different to look forward to each day. There is constant emphasis on the importance of enrichment for the stimulation and well-being of the bears; I like the creative and innovative ways the team employ in using recycled or organic materials to create food-based and structural enrichments—each of these has a deceitfully complex name, like Stick Paradox (basically a bouquet of twigs hiding peanut butter, for which sunbears have an insatiable appetite, in the middle). I was also fortunate enough to participate in a health check for Soo (where I learned of the many biological, genetic topics yet unknown and unstudied about sunbears, e.g. blood type), and an integration observation for Chin (to determine if this very solitary bear—even by Sun Bear standards—was ready to join an established sub-adult group of eight). 

BSBCC was invited to be one of the participants in the World Animal Day 2018 celebration in UMS (5th & 6th Oct 2018), organized by JK Kebajikan, Rekreasi dan Libatsama Masyarakat (KaRIB) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Borneo Animal Welfare Society (BAWSS), and International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA); sponsored by The Animal Kingdom Sdn Bhd.

By celebrating World Animal Day 2018, students and public are invited to come and join the interesting forum and talks session, visit the exhibition booths by various NGOs (for domesticated animals and wildlife), commercial booths, fitness booth, purchase delicious food from food trucks, and also join the blood donation activity.

Thanks to all the animal lovers who came along from different places, supporting us. Please spread the word to family and friends, let's be responsible and kind to all animals!

​Together we can save animals, together we can offer a better future to animals!

Here are some pictures of the workshop session held by reVoiced band with local music students from SMK Muhibbah Sandakan. It was an honour for BSBCC to host the workshop by the American A Cappella band here at our Centre on 5th of September, 2018.
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The session also incorporated sharing of music culture between reVoiced members and the students. Everyone had a great time! Thanks to US Embassy Kuala Lumpur for bringing us together in this fun and interactive session!

​Program Pendidikan & Kesedaran Konservasi Hidupan Liar (Siri 2) 2018. The 2018 (2nd Series) Education & Wildlife Conservation Awareness Programme was successfully conducted for Telupid District in Sabah from 1st to 4th of October this year. Four primary schools (SK Menanam, SK Langkabong, SK Sogo-Sogo, and SK Linayukan) within the Telupid District has been chosen for this programme, with the support of our usual partners in conducting these programmes: Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) and Kinabatangan Orang-utan Conservation Programme (HUTAN-KOCP). Various activities were carried out in the one day programme for each school, which not only focused on talks and presentations but also include interactive videos, quizzes, mini games, and introductions to the wildlife in Sabah. Tons of thanks for WRU and HUTAN-KOCP for their participation and also not forgotten all of the schools' students and staffs for their kind hospitality.

Text by Tara Sofia Jadwani-Bungar 
Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah

​Bermuda, Mizuno tells me, is the biggest bear the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).  Yet he barely comes up to my nose when he stands on his hind legs.  Across from him is Wan-Wan, a female with the loveliest pink nose.  She eats bananas delicately, removing the peel with her claws before sliding the banana fruit into her mouth.  They are the first two bears I meet at the BSBCC.  

​I’m Tara, a 19 year-old university student from Melbourne, Australia and my stint at the BSBCC was my first time in Borneo.  I’m studying to be a vet and would like to someday work in “conservation medicine”. Volunteering at the BSBCC introduced me to working in that sector.

Video by Chiew Lin May

In the wild, sun bears spend their time foraging, climbing and resting on trees. Looks how Noah chilling out in the forest!

​Please take action to protect sun bear home.