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On the 19th October 2022, BSBCC organised a Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Education Programme to Kampung Bambangan, Sandakan, which lies at the vicinity of Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. This is the first programme of such organised by BSBCC targeting the community, and more will be coming soon. The programme aimed to reach the community living near to forest reserve to raise the awareness on conservation and providing a platform for state departments, NGOs and related agencies to exchange information on relevent issues. The programme was preceded by a school outreach programme in SK Bambangan, targeting the school students and teachers in the morning. A total of 187 students and 17 teachers reached in this programme. At the same time, community members and students were visiting the exhibition booths prepared by BSBCC, Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme (HUTAN-KOCP), Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC), Orangutan Appeal UK, Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC). This was followed with mini sports games to foster good relationship between the community and the organiser. At night, the community attended talks given by Sabah Wildlife Department, TRCRC, HUTAN-KOCP and BSBCC. An estimated number of around 150 community members attended the talks (exceeding the expected number!) with several issues related to wildlife conflict and legals were discussed. With this, it is hoped that the issues were clarified for suitable future actions and will lead to a better environment for human, wildlife and nature. BSBCC would love to extend the biggest gratitude to Ministry of Finance (MOF) for the funding of this programme and all the participations from state department, agencies, NGOs, Kampung Bambangan's Development and Safety Committee and SK Bambangan in making this programme a success. Thank you!
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Today, we continued our outreach programme for Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Education Programme to SMK Elopura, Sandakan together with our loyal conservation partners, Sabah Wildlife Department, HUTAN - Kinabatangan Orang Utan Conservation Programme (KOCP), Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Orang Utan UK Appeal and Seratu Aatai. Many educational and awareness activities were conducted to raise students’ awareness of nature and wildlife conservation. Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Education Programme (SJK(C) Min Chung Sepilok, Sandakan)12/10/2022 Today, we continued our outreach programme about Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Education Programme to SJK(C) Min Chung, Sepilok, Sandakan. Educational booths were set up, and activities such as presentations, colouring activity and mini-games were conducted to spread awareness about nature and wildlife conservation to the pupils. We also introduced Sunny the Sun Bear to the pupils through an interactive talk about sun bears. Many thanks to our conservation partners: Sabah Wildlife Department, HUTAN – Kinabatangan Orang Utan Conservation Programme (KOCP), Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Orang Utan UK Appeal, and Seratu Aatai for your involvement in this programme. See you at our next outreach! #bsbcc #environment #wildlife #conservation #awareness #sunbear As part of our efforts to raise public awareness about sun bear conservation, the BSBCC Environmental Education Unit organised a Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Education Programme in October for schools in Sandakan District together with Sabah Wildlife Department, HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orang Utan Conservation Programme (KOCP), Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Orang Utan UK Appeal and Seratu Aatai. Today, we reached out to the first school, which is SMK Tinusa. Educational booths were set up, with activities such as presentations and mini-games were done to spread awareness about nature and wildlife conservation to the students. #environmentaleducation #awareness #wildlife #conservation #sunbear #bsbcc Do you hear the trumpet sound? It is Mr. Elephant trying to say, "Happy World Elephant Day!" On August 12, 2022, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center (BSBCC) was invited to attend World Elephant Day, with the theme "Sabahan People Live Harmony With Elephants" at Sabah Forestry Institution Hall, Telupid. On behalf of State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, YB Datuk Jafry Arrifin, the ceremony was officiated by assistant permanent secretary 1 of State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Mary Ossidore Malangking. Together with NGOs and government organizations such as Sabah Wildlife Department, Danau Girang Field Centre, HUTAN-KOCP, Seratu Aatai, and Community Elephant Ranger Team (CERT), BSBCC opens an exhibition to keep up with the effort to tell the public why it is important for us to protect our wild animals. Other than that, there are other interesting sessions such as casual talk about human-wildlife conflict and lucky draws. There are Sabah Forestry Institution students and other attendees who come to our boots showing their interest in getting to know more about sun bears. The event was a success thanks to everyone! Text by Seng Yen Wah Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah After Sunbearo and Loki were reintroduced into the wild in January of last year, we are happy to announce that we have successfully released Wawa, a six-year-old adult female sun bear, back into the wild on February 26, 2022. She is the 11th bear to be reintroduced into the wild by the BSBCC.  Wawa (a six-year-old adult female bear) has been successfully released into the wild on 26th February 2022. Wawa arrived at the BSBCC on the 18th of March, 2016. When she arrived at the BSBCC she was just four months old. She was spotted by the Forest Management Unit (FMU) 16, Pinangah, Telupid District. At that time, when the officer brought her to the FMU, she appeared weak. The next day, they surrendered Wawa to the Sabah Wildlife Department. After that, she was sent to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Zoo and then to the BSBCC.  Wawa arrived at the BSBCC on the 18th of March, 2016. When she arrived she was just four months old. Ideally, the bear cub will stay with their mother until two to three years old. However, Wawa was found alone, without her mother by her side. She suffered from the loss of her mother. Due to emotional trauma, Wawa was afraid of her new environment. She would become grumpy and start growling. She felt safer and prefered to stay in the den rather than out in the forest.  Wawa lost her mother at a very young age. She suffered from emotional trauma which caused her to fear her new environment. For Wawa to gain confidence, her keepers provided her with different natural structural enrichments, in a larger exercise den, to enrich her daily life and encourage her natural bear behaviour. Every day she practised her “wild bear skills” such as digging, foraging and climbing. These skills are essential for survival in the wild. Wawa slowly adapted to her new surroundings.  The structural enrichment in the den enriches her daily life and encourages her natural bear behaviour.  Every day she practises her “wild bear skills”.  Wawa slowly adapted to the new environment. On 17th November 2016, Wawa took her first and brave step out onto the ground in the forest enclosure. Once she touched the ground, she could not wait to explore everything inside the forest enclosure. She has since proven that she is an explorer! She has excellent climbing skills and is one of the most adventurous and outgoing bears in the BSBCC. She is superb at exploring and investigating both the enrichment and the environment. She explores, plays, climbs and rests in the forest. Wawa is vigilant. She is aware of her surroundings. When a stranger is gradually approaching her, she will give a warning bark or even chase them away. She gains strength, confidence and develops her independence. After six years of rehabilitation in BSBCC, she now has the opportunity to live in the wild again!  Wawa moved to bear house on the 10th of October 2016. And, she took her first step into the forest on the 17th November 2016.  Wawa is an explorer. She loves to spend all day long in the forest!  Wawa has great enthusiasm! She shows her skills to survive in the forest, foraging food, building nests, climbing trees, and identifying threats.  After six years of rehabilitation in BSBCC, she gains strength, confidence and develops her independence. She now has a second chance to live in the wild! On 25th February 2022, our resident veterinarian, Dr Yeoh Boon Nie, assisted by the bear care team, conducted a final check-up on Wawa. After that, we transferred Wawa to a translocation cage, and her keeper cared for her wellbeing by closely monitoring from sedation to recovery. At 11.55pm in the midnight, the night sky was clear. The team loaded the cage onto a vehicle. Everything was ready! The bear release team and Wawa were set off for the forest reserves.  Our Founder & CEO, Dr Wong, was checking Wawa.  Dr Boon performed a simple check on Wawa’s condition to ensure she is fit for the reintroduction.  Dr Wong was checking Wawa’s collar to make sure the collar is functioning well.  After the check-up, the bear care team moved Wawa to the translocation cage.  Wawa was placed in the translocation cage, and a keeper closely monitored her from sedation to recovery.  At 11.55 in the midnight, the translocation cage was loaded on the vehicle. And, the bear release team and Wawa were ready to go! After few hours drive, we finally arrived. The sky was still dark. Wawa looked alert in the cage. The team wait for the sky to turn bright. The team then inspected the release site and made final preparations. When everything was ready, the moment finally came. Once the door opened at 6.29 am, Wawa ran out from the cage and soon she disappeared into the deep forest. It was an emotional moment to see her being released into the wild. The real freedom now belongs to Wawa. We hope she enjoys her new adventure in the wild. Her movement will be monitored via satellite collar by the BSBCC team. Stay wild, Wawa!  The team carried Wawa to the release spot.  Last feeding honey water to Wawa.  Wawa is finally home!  Stay wild, Wawa!  Let the new adventure begin, and this will be a good one! Last but not least, the BSBCC wants to thank the Sabah Forestry Department, the Sabah Wildlife Department, Yayasan Hasanah, Yayasan Sime Darby and everyone who has been following and supporting us. We can't do it without you. The pandemic covid-19 has affected our centre and caused a huge impact on our income from ecotourism and this is expected to last much longer. Your help will allow us to sustain our cause to promote sun bear conservation in Borneo through animal welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, education and research, giving captured sun bears a better home and restoring their right to live in the wild. Your support will make a difference in the life of the sun bear! Every little bit counts! For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.bsbcc.org.my/index.html.  Thank you for your love and support! Written by Pradeep Aggi Gunasegaran Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah Ronnie or also known as Ronnie Boy is one of the forty-three residents Bornean Sun Bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). On the eventful night of 10th of March 2014, Ronnie Boy was among the five sun bears that were involved with the transfer activity from Lok Kawi Wildlife Park to BSBCC. While the history of Ronnie Boy ending up with human beings is unknown, he spent approximately eight years of his life at a resort in Tawau with Diana, another rescued sun bear at BSBCC. The both of them spent the early part of their lives in a small concrete floored cage as they were exhibited to the resort’s visitors. The owner of the resort then decided to hand over both Ronnie Boy and Diana to Sabah Wildlife Department in July 2013 and they were housed in Lok Kawi Wildlife Park for slightly more than seven months before the transfer activity was carried out.  Ronnie Boy, Rescue No. 35 Ronnie Boy was assumed to be eight years of age and he also appeared to be a physically healthy and muscular adult male Bornean Sun Bear. However, he was still subjected to a health check upon his arrival at BSBCC and he was diagnosed with a heart condition by the veterinarian. Due to that, extra care is given to ensure that Ronnie Boy gets the best diet possible under BSBCC’s care. He went from just merely eating fruits and rice to being fed with a variety of food from fruits, vegetable, egg, and many more to keep him healthy. Today, Ronnie Boy is 15 years of age, still healthy, muscular and looking charming with his pair of blue eyes.  Can you see his beautiful eyes? Throughout the years of being under the care of BSBCC, Ronnie Boy has always been a calm adult male bear. Sun bears are solitary individuals in nature but he does not seem to be unfazed by the sight of other male bears nearby. He often spends his time relaxing in his den by sitting on the edge of the basket provided, clinging on to the bars with his forelimbs while resting his head against one of his forelimbs. Besides the basket, Ronnie Boy is also hooked on hammocks. He would lie down in his beloved hammock with his head resting on the edge. In that position, he would just observe keepers and volunteers who happen to walk pass by his den. While he is always in state of tranquility, he gets excited when environmental enrichment is provided to him. He does not get frustrated if the environmental enrichment is complex instead he would spends hours interacting with it.  Doing our best to provide a small fraction of a forest to Ronnie Boy Although Ronnie Boy is always calm in the bear house, he does have an issue that troubles him. For years, the bear care team has been trying to release Ronnie Boy into the forest but it has not been fruitful. Ronnie Boy is often afraid to take the steps out of the guillotine door into the forest enclosures. He is fearful of the outside world probably due to the condition he has been living in since young where he has only grown up to know concrete flooring and metal bars as his safe haven. We may be heading into the blue but for as long that Ronnie Boy is under the care of BSBCC, efforts will carried out for him to some day have his paws feeling the earth and grass while his body is soaked under the sunshine and rain. We hope that some day, Ronnie Boy will experience the world like any other wild Bornean Sun Bear!  Ronnie Boy sitting at the Training Pen, a space that is just adjacent to our forest enclosure Text by Pradeep Aggi Gunasegaran Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah Rescued Bear Number 56 which goes by the name Soo maybe be well known among the loyal supporters of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) but for those of you who are new to our cause, here is a little flashback to the beginning of Soo’s life. The details that were provided to us spoke briefly about Soo being traded in a market at Sook, Keningau in the year of 2015. She was purchased by her owner for RM 350 and then lived as pet for two years in the interior division of Sabah. In 2017, Sabah Wildlife Department rescued Soo and handed her over to BSBCC when she was already at the age of three years old. There is no doubt that Soo’s mother would have been killed for her to be sold in a market. A mother bear would always try her best to protect her cub just as like it was potrait in a recent trending news (June 2021) which mentioned that a young American woman pushes off a brown bear to save her dogs. If you would have seen the entire CCTV footage, you would notice that the brown bear had two cubs and the mother bear became defensive when the dogs started barking frantically.  Day 1 upon arriving at BSBCC, Soo was transferred from her translocation cage to our quarantine pen Like any other sun bears that end in BSBCC, Soo also underwent a health check upon arrival. However, unlike many sun bears which arrive in poor health conditions, Soo’s blood work indicated that she was healthy. While her general health was in order, Soo was not adjusting well to the surrounding. She was always in heightened alert state as keeper were around in the day. She would only eat her food and play with environmental enrichment after the keepers leave at the end of the day. The changes to her behaviour were subtle as she would aggressively start pacing if there is the slightest form of stressor such a single loud noise. As her behaviour slowly improved, it was decided that Soo’s rehabilitation process would take a positive turn by integrating her with Sika, Kina, BJ; three young sun bears and Diana; our adult female sun bear. At the beginning of the integration, Soo was apprehensive and confused at time when it came to interacting with the other bears. Although, it was difficult for her in the beginning, she eventually got along with all the other sun bears and she was able to eat, play and sleep together with them. Soo remained vigilant to the presence of keepers but having other sun bears around her did allow her to be more relaxed in comparison to her early life as a solitary bear since arriving at BSBCC.  A young Soo playing with enrichment that was provided for her during her stay in the quarantine area  Soo integrating with other sun bears at BSBCC to help recover from her traumatic experience with humans After staying at BSBCC’s quarantine section for few years, Soo was transferred to bear house with her friends Sika, Kina and BJ in 2020. It was another stressful yet a necessary process that had to be endured by Soo in her rehabilitation program. This time around, there were more sun bears around where she could either see them or catch their smell and of course, there were also more keepers and volunteers around as well. Soo spent her first week clinging to the top of the den, refusing to shift dens for cleaning to be done or even coming down to take her food as long as she knew that keepers were still in the bear house even if they were not standing in front of her. Once she settled down in bear house, the next step in her rehabilitation process was undergoing fence training. Surprisingly, Soo was first to pass fence training among her friend. As soon as Sika, Kina and BJ passed their fence training, all of them were released into Pen G, a small forest enclosure. This time around the transition from a small enclosed space; which was very familiar to her to a large open space was tremendously difficult for Soo.  Soo clinging high up in the pen to avoid any humans at the Bear House After a few of month, Soo did not touch the soil in Pen G and it was decided that her entire group would be shifted to Pen K as an effort to get Soo living her life as a wild sun bear. When Soo, Sika, Kina, and BJ were released into Pen K, the initial results were similar as Soo refused to step down to venture into the forest while the others were quick the enjoy the much bigger forest enclosure. It also took Soo few month before she gathered the courage to step on the concrete flooring of Pen K, a flooring that is much familiar to a sun bear like Soo. After a combine of seven months, the bear care unit spotted Soo venturing into the forest enclosure. Although she was brave enough to indulge herself with nature, by afternoon, Soo would be back to bear house, on the all too familiar concrete flooring, waiting for the keepers to bring her back into the bear house later in the evening. In March 2021, Soo and her friends were once again shifted to Pen G as per the rotational practice under BSBCC. Unfortunately, the cycle repeats itself for Soo as she has yet to set her paw onto the ground of Pen G at this point of writing.  The initial stage of releasing Soo into Pen K. She would only feel safe being by the guillotine door that opens up into the Bear House.  After months of taking it slow, allowing Soo to take her time, she finally gathered the courage to venture into our forest enclosure The rehabilitation process undergone by Soo with BSBCC has been a long and slow process. The reaction that Soo has been giving throughout the process clearly indicates that she is a traumatised Bornean Sun Bear. The actions of us, the human-beings have robbed her the essence of living her life as a sun bear; especially when she was a mere cub which could have lived peacefully with her mother for at least two years, learning the way of a sun bear.  Soo taking a rest on a dead tree trunk that was recently dug Sun bears are a totally protected species, protected by the law in Sabah. It is illegal to hunt, to be kept as a possession or to be involved in any activity that could cause harm to a sun bear. Sun bear cubs are cute but it is also a reason for the depleting population of sun bears in the wild and the growing cubs end up having a traumatising lives just like Soo’s. Please say no to illegal wildlife trade and if you happen to see any sun bears being sold, you can alert the Sabah Wildlife Department or BSBCC. As for Soo, BSBCC would continuously put in the effort to aid her with the rehabilitation program. We would also like to convey our appreciation to Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) who is adopting Soo under the My Bear Adoption Programme which further aids in our cause to give a second chance to the rescued Bornean Sun Bears in Sabah.  Soo, The Nocturnal Text by Poon Siau Hui Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah BJ, the energetic five year old male bear was staying in Bear House 2. He was the 61st Bear rescued by the BSBCC. When he gets his favorite foods, he will guard his food by barking loudly. When he was just five months old, he was purchased in Sonsogon Village, Pitas for RM 300 and then kept as a house pet. He arrived at the BSBCC on November 22nd 2018 when he was two years old. As his previous owner had fed him with rice, meat, honey, and fruits, he weighed 33.8kg.  BJ was sent by Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD).  Bear keepers are carrying BJ to the Quarantine Bear den. As BJ is one of the illegal trade victims of a young age, we believe that his mother was either poached or killed. Normally in the wild, the sun bear cub will be cared for by their mother until 2 to 3 years of age. When entering his new environment and surroundings, BJ takes time to adapt in the den. But as soon as he settled down and was no longer traumatized, he was given a chance to integrate with a larger social group of female bears – Kina, Sika, Soo, and Diana. By integrating with others bears, he can learn how to be a REAL bear and adjust his life living with bears not humans.  BJ was alerted to his new environment.  BJ with a confused expression on his face is trying to adapt to his new environment.  Getting himself comfortable inside the basket.  Filling the indoor den with some tree branches and logs to minimize his stress.  Resting on the wooden structure is one of BJ’s favourite spots. To proceed with the rehabilitation process, BJ, Soo, Kina, and Sika were moved to Bear House 2 and released into Pen G. But before BJ is released into the forest enclosure Pen G, he needs to go through fence training. At first BJ was afraid to go outside as this is another new environment for him. But after he tried to be brave and step out into the forest, he falls in love with it. He loves the texture of the ground which is covered with soil not concrete, the place where he belongs.  A group of confused bears.  Sniffing the food bait which led him out from the indoor den.  He is peeking out at the forest enclosure from the top of the ramp.  Finally, BJ decided to go down the ramp.  He got some fruits right after he stepped into Pen G.  Foraging in the forest enclosure. BJ really learnt a lot on how to be a real sun bear again,bonding with his friends. Hopefully one day he will fulfill all the criterias which a wild sun bear should have and have a chance to feel the freedom in the rainforest.  BJ let’s be a confident bear! Text by Mohammad Naqiuddin bin Alipudin Photos by Chiew Lin May & Seng Yen Wah Kala is a 6 year old, adult female sun bear in BSBCC. She arrived at the BSBCC in January 2015 as a cub and she was separated from her mother at an early age. She was actually being illegally traded and someone bought her with the intention of surrendering her to Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit. Upon arrival at the BSBCC, she showed signs of dehydration, emaciation and malnutrition; basically in a very poor condition.  Little Kala arrived at BSBCC showing symptoms of malnutrition.  However, Kala is treated full of care here and has been progressing into a strong adult sun bear. She was introduced back to her natural habitat, the forest, on June 2016.  Looking around, being alert before entering the forest  "Look at all these greenies!" Kala loves wandering in the forest, foraging in the soil, biting tree bark in search for foods such as invertebrates like earthworms, termites and pill millipedes. With her sharp claws and full set of canines, she has no problem to bite through the tree bark or any wooden logs. Walking around the forest alone is really her thing. She would find her favorite spot and just sit there, sunbathing under the rich sun rays before going back to foraging again, or sleep on dead logs.  Kala caught in the act for foraging on the dead log.  Showing off her V-shaped chest mark.  “This place feels comfy…” Kala thought.  “Let me lay down under the sunlight for extra Vitamin D." She loves being in the forest, just like how humans like being at home. Most of the time, almost every day, she doesn’t go back to her den and spends the night out in the forest. As adventurous as she might be, she’s still learning several survival skills and hopefully, she will soon be completely rehabilitated and able to be released and live on her own in her natural habitat, away from humans.  "Don't forget to mention that I'm a good climber too!"   Kala with her bestie friend Bintang when they were first integrated. They both went to the same forest enclosure along with Susie 2. In the bear house, Kala stays with Susie 2 in the same den and her neighbour, Bintang. All three of them went out to the forest together. When Bintang had a grumpy moment, she would growl at both Kala and Susie 2 after the door is opened. However, it didn’t affect their bonding at all as there is no aggression. Susie 2 sometimes growls back. As for Kala, she is one chilled bear. In their den, she will rest alone on the platform and remain unbothered. Even during feeding time, unlike other bears who are so eager to get fed first, Kala would only come down when she really is hungry and she has no problem sharing foods with Susie 2.Kala is not really fond of new people which is really good being part of her natural instinct. When she feels threatened, she knows how to defend and fight for herself with a warning bark. She is cool around other sun bears but not around human. She is always observant. When any keeper enters her neighboring dens to clean, she lies down and watches from above, sometimes sniffing then barking but when she gets bored she falls asleep!  Kala is not only an adorable sun bear but also strong and brave. Her journey whilst at the BSBCC has been positive and she still consistently improves, mastering skills for what it takes to be a wild sun bear and keeping in touch with her natural instinct. She loves the forest, the air, the sun’s rays and playing in the greens that grow on the rich soil. Hopefully, she will soon be fulfilling all the criteria of a wild sun bear and able to be released in the future. Good days are coming Kala!
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