We were invited to attend the World Elephant Day Celebration at Kalabakan District, Sabah on the 14-15 September 2023. The 2-days celebration aimed to raise awareness on elephant conservation among the primary and secondary students in the area, which was also attended by some of the local community. This is a golden opportunity for BSBCC to do a sharing session about the sun bear conservation work done by us since 2008. Of course, wildlife conservation is a collective effort by everyone, and we can start by educating our youngsters.
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Thank you, Sabah Wildlife Department, for the opportunity given to us and for inviting us to the celebration!

In a significant step towards preserving the delicate ecological balance of our planet, The Red Heroes, MBA students from UKM-GSB, proudly hosted the Sun Bear Initiative Program on August 19, 2023, at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah. This initiative, undertaken as part of their MBA project, aimed to raise awareness about the urgent need for sun bear conservation.

With the environment facing numerous challenges, the Sun Bear Initiative Program served as a beacon of hope by bringing together a diverse group of individuals who shared a common goal – safeguarding the unique biodiversity of Sabah. A total of 40 volunteers from FELDA, FGV, and UKM-GSB united their efforts in this noble cause, emphasizing the power of collaboration in tackling complex environmental issues. 

One of the primary objectives of the program was to create widespread awareness about the plight of sun bears, the smallest bear species and a crucial component of the rainforest ecosystem. The participants engaged in hands-on activities, crafting enrichments in the form of toys made from branches, honey, and peanut butter, enhancing the lives of these magnificent creatures while learning about their significance.

The Sun Bear Initiative Program received a significant boost from its generous sponsors, FELDA and FGV, who collectively contributed RM15,000. This sponsorship is earmarked for supporting vital research and educational activities at the BSBCC. Their support not only underscores the private sector's commitment to environmental conservation but also highlights the growing recognition of the importance of corporate social responsibility in preserving our natural heritage.

Beyond FELDA and FGV, additional sponsorship emerged from diverse quarters, including the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), Koperasi Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Berhad, and enthusiastic members of the community. The collective generosity: both in monetary and non-monetary terms represents the spirit of shared responsibility that underscores such initiatives.

​The Sun Bear Initiative Program aligned its efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) Asia Headquarters hosted by Sunway University and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), amplified the program's reach and impact, symbolizing a unified commitment across various sectors towards sustainable advancement.

​Remarkably, FELDA and FGV have demonstrated their unwavering dedication to the cause by pledging to sustain this effort for another several years. This commitment speaks volumes about their dedication to the environment and their belief in the program's potential to effect lasting change. The Sun Bear Initiative Program is not merely a one-time event; it represents an ongoing movement that seeks to inspire others and drive continuous action. 

​The success of the Sun Bear Initiative Program showcases how grassroots efforts, boosted by the support of stakeholders, can make a tangible impact on conservation. It serves as a reminder that every individual has a role to play in protecting our planet's biodiversity. As we reflect on the accomplishments of the Sun Bear Initiative Program, let us remember that true transformation begins with awareness and action. The Red Heroes, along with their dedicated volunteers, sponsors, and partners, have ignited a spark of change that has the potential to grow into a wildfire of conservation consciousness. The Sun Bear Initiative Program stands as a testament to what can be achieved when passion and purpose converge in the pursuit of a better world. 


Prepared by:
Muhammad Amiruddin Roselan
Project Director
The Red Heroes Team
MBA Students @ UKM- Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB)

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Day 1 : An Ecosystem that Provides

This year, BSBCC is participating in the Youth Forum session at the International Conference on Heart of Borneo (HoB): An Ecosystem that Provides. The event takes place at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, from August 23–24, 2023.
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The Youth Forum session provides a platform and aims to inspire more youth to be involved in or support conservation work. It is great that the youth are able to share their stories and passion.
discuss environmental and conservation issues through workshops and suggest ways in which youth can play a role in addressing environmental and conservation issues.

Day 2: A Ecosystem that Provides 

The Youth Forum session provides a platform to inspire more youth to be involved in or support conservation work. It is great that the youth are able to share their stories and passion, discuss environmental and conservation issues through workshops and suggest ways in which youth can play a role in addressing environmental and conservation issues.

Thank you to everyone who visited and stopped by our booth during this two-day event. We hope that everyone will take their own role to help us spread awareness about sun bears and their habitat. Save Sun Bear!

A group of students known as ‘The Red Heroes’ from the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM-GSB) fundraised a total of MYR 15,000 for the conservation of sun bears as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

The fund raised was handed to BSBCC at today’s ceremony at our Centre here in Sepilok. The ceremony was officiated by a representative from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, witnessed by the officials from the funders which are Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), FGV Holdings Berhad, Department of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM) and Koperasi Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Berhad.
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The program also involved a group of 40 volunteers who joined hands in a 1-day program to prepare the bear's enrichments to improve the bear’s well-being here in our Centre.
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We humbly thank all parties involved in making this program a success. This marked another milestone for us in raising awareness of the world smallest’s bear.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is committed in protecting the sun bear as a national heritage, which is is aligned with its conservation-driven tourism vision.

State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said a newly-launched campaign to adopt sun bears will help the Sabah Wildlife Department establish practical goals for sun bear recovery.

"The population of sun bears in the country is now around 2,500," he said during the launch of the Bask Bear Coffee campaign to encourage Malaysians to adopt sun bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan.

He said the BSBCC houses 42 sun bears, which were mostly rescued by the Sabah Wildlife Department from poachers and pet owners.

He said the effort to adopt a sun bear will enable people to support related scientific research and promotes the wellbeing of this totally protected species under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment.

Meanwhile, Sabah Wildlife Department deputy director Roland Nium said the sun bear is among the 12 totally protected species in the state following the extinction of the Sumatran rhinoceros in 2019.

He said strict enforcement has boosted conservation efforts and this can be boosted with increased public awareness, he said. He said sun bears faced major threats in the form of illegal poaching for its paws, gall bladders and bile, which fetch very high prices in the black market.Those caught for illegal poaching can be face up to five years imprisonment and be fined RM250,000, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Loob Holding Sdn Bhd founder and chief executive officer Bryan Loo said the company adopted a three-month-old sun bear named Tenom. He said the company, which owns Bask Bear Coffee, said its 96 outlets nationwide will engage in efforts to encourage people to know more about sun bears. It is also aiming to raise funds to adopt another sun bear at the BSBCC. He said each adoption costs RM7,200 annually and it involves staff rehabilitating captured bears for their eventual release into the wild.

BSBCC's founder and chief executive officer Dr Wong Siew Te hoped the campaign would raise awareness about sun bears status as protected animals. He urged people to join the 'Adopt a Sun Bear' campaign to support their conservation efforts.

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah wants more private companies to take part in the conservation of totally protected wildlife in the state, said the state’s assistant tourism minister.

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said companies could emulate the effort done by coffee company Bask Bear, which has adopted an orphaned sun bear called Tenom, here today.

“Companies, like the Bask Bear Coffee, stand to gain not only from the positive brand image associated with their commitment to environmental responsibility but also from the satisfaction of making a tangible impact.

“I would like to congratulate Bask Bear Coffee for adopting Tenom and for their ongoing efforts to adopt a second bear. The Sabah government values the contributions of the business sector to the Sabah Wildlife Department’s conservation initiatives.

“Your campaign will enable not just the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre, but also the Sabah Wildlife Department to set realistic actionable goals for sun bear recovery.” he said. Bask Bear Coffee is also raising donations to aid sun bear conservation through an adoption programme offered by the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre based in Sandakan. The centre needs around RM7,200 a year to rehabilitate one bear before they could be released back to the forest. 

According to Bangkuai, the wild sun bear population is estimated to be 2,400 and 42 are in the shelter, most of which have been rescued by the state Wildlife Department from poachers and pet owners. The sun bear is classified as one of the 13 totally protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment. Other totally protected wildlife species include the Banteng and pangolins. Sabah has already lost its rhinoceros. 

​Also present were Loob Holding Sdn Bhd founder and chief executive Bryan Loo, and the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Roland Niun. 

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​This week, our Education team visited the Gilwell Scouts Nature Park in Sandakan to be part of Scout Camp 2023 (Sibuga District). This camp comprises around 200 scouts from different primary and secondary schools in Sandakan. Our team was assigned a two-hour time period for educational activities. Besides an informative talk, our team conducted a Bingo game and a sun bear yell contest. During the closing ceremony, a booth for the exhibition was also set up. This event gave us the chance to raise public awareness of nature and wildlife conservation as well as introduce BSBCC's efforts to conserve the world's smallest bear, the sun bear.

We are having a great day today as we welcome the participants of the Environmental Education Race (Group M - EERACe26). Our education team prepared several tasks and activities for them to learn more about sun bears and BSBCC. It is amazing to see all of them giving their best to complete each task and having fun while at our Centre. We hope that they will be able to explain the significance of the BSBCC in protecting the sun bears to other teams during their final presentation. Good luck, Group M!

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