Damai, Sun Bear Cub Diary – Sun Bear Life

Text  by Chiew Lin May

Photos by Dawn Serene Tukalan, Gloria Ganang, Tee Thye Lim and Chiew Lin May

When Damai was 4 months old, Wong and Gloria was walking Damai out to the forest.

Last year 5th November, a tiny female sun bear cub named Damai, meaning “peace” in Malay, was brought to the BSBCC. She was rescued from a residential area in Damai, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. When we first received Damai, she only weighed 5kg and was about 4 months old. She has been in the BSBCC now for an entire year, and just turned 16 months old. Over the past year she has grown extremely fast.


When Damai turned five months old we began taking her out into the forest for walks. She was extremely curious about her new forest environment, and began to explore. Despite the fact that she has very small paws, she has used her keen sense of smell, and other thriving abilities, to explore the forest as a wild sun bear.


Last 5th November, 2012 a tiny female sun bear cub named Damai, meaning “peace” in Malay, was brought to the BSBCC. She was rescued from a residential area in Damai, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. When we first received Damai, she only weighed 5kg and was about 4 months old. She has been in the BSBCC now for an entire year, and just turned 16 months old. Over the past year she has grown extremely fast.


When Damai turned five months old we began taking her out into the forest for walks. She was extremely curious about her new forest environment, and began to explore. Despite the fact that she has very small paws, she has used her keen sense of smell, and other thriving abilities, to explore the forest as a wild sun bear.


She roams around the forest foraging for food including termites, beetles, larva, and other forest invertebrates. When she is not searching the forest floor for food you can find her high up in the trees sitting, resting, or escaping the danger of predators below.


On July 30, 2013 Damai surprised us all when she built a nest in her favourite tree! The surprising part was that she built the nest without ever being taught by a mother bear. I felt very fortunate that I had the opportunity to watch how sun bears build their nests in trees.


Day after day, Damai demonstrated good progress in building her strength and developing the skills that she would need to survive in the wild. Every time we walked her in the forest we could tell she was becoming braver, more independent, and was enjoying the forest more and more.


When Damai reached one year old we stopped walking her out into the forest due to potential safety hazards. However, we continued to walk her through the rehabilitation process which included introduction to natural foods, such as termites, tractor millipedes, pile millipedes, and local fruits. We also introduced her to activities that simulated natural behaviors such as digging, foraging, and climbing. She has definitely not forgotten her skills from the wild! Damai is very sensitive to new people though, and remains very cautious of unfamiliar people.
Damai is a lovely sun bear cub and a clever little girl. She is remaining active, eating fruits and vegetables, and enjoying her daily playtime with the enrichment provided by our bear staffs. She’s actually enjoying eating a bit too much, and is becoming a bit tubby.
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Here are couples of photos shows Damai digging, climbing tree, playing, sleeping at the Kabili- Sepilok Forest Reserve.

Little Damai learned how to forage in search of termites.

Damai was so curious about the new smells and sounds in the forest the first time she went exploring.

Since little, her instinct of climbing and exploring in the forest is strong.

Damai was hold a termite mound. This is her favorite protein food!

Damai climbing height of tree for taking a nap.

Damai's stature is suited for her lifestyle and allows her to climbing through the trees.

Yay~!! She was enjoy roaming in the forest with the tall trees!

Damai's sense of smell is quite profound and she has very long claws that she uses to rip open trees for her favorite meal.

This is a very good improve that she is using her strong canines to tear the tree bark.

Sun bear is one of these mysterious bears of the jungle!

This is what Damai react when encounter dangerous from predators.

Damai was learned climbing skills on large trees and she want to get a better view from the tree.

When walked her in forest, she likes to spend more time on tree.

Damai is having a nice and relaxing nap in forest.

Tree Hugging Bear

Using her keen sense of smell, Damai is very focused on digging in search for invertebrates.

Tired after explore in forest.

She also likes to spend each day foraging in forest for wild sun bear food such as termites, ants, millipedes, beetles and other invertebrates.

Little Damai learned how to cross the river.

Using her small tiny paw, sometimes she will splash and play with the water.

It is amazing that Little Damai really become brave and independent sun bear. She also grow very rapidly.

On 30 July 2013, Damai surprisingly make herself a tree nest high above the ground using leaves and branches.

Damai was happily enjoying the sun and exploring her world.

We may never know the fate of her mother, or Damai’s mysterious true story, but we are glad she is now under our care. We will keep on observing Damai, both physically and behaviorally, with hopes that one day she can be released back where she belongs.