Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Our Journey
    • Events >
      • Past events
    • Meet Our Crew
    • Visit us
    • Our Work >
      • Animal Welfare
      • Ecotourism
      • Rehabilitation
      • Conservation actions
      • Research
      • Education >
        • Virtual Field Trip For Schools >
          • (MALAY) Lawatan Maya Beruang Madu Untuk Pelajar
          • (ENGLISH) Virtual Field Trip for Schools
      • Partners and Supporters
  • Sun Bears
    • Sun bear facts
    • Meet our bears
  • Resources
    • Sun Bear Wallpapers - Free For You
    • Learning Materials
    • Newsletter
    • Annual Report
    • Press
  • Bear Talk Blog
  • Adopt
    • My Bear Adoption
    • Share Bear Adoption
    • Gifts With Meaning
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer programme
    • Volunteer Stories
  • SHOP
  • 首頁
  • 關於我們
    • 總覽
    • 中心的歷程
    • 我們的使命 >
      • 動物福利
      • 復育計劃
      • 馬來熊與生態教育
      • 馬來熊研究
      • 生態旅遊
    • 團隊介紹
    • 支持與合作機構/團體
    • 探訪本中心 >
      • 活動
      • 過往活動
  • 馬來熊
    • 馬來熊常識
    • 中心裡的馬來熊
  • 資源
    • 馬來熊電腦桌面背景壁紙(免費下載)
    • 教學資料
    • 時事通訊
    • 年度報告
    • 新聞/媒體
  • 助養馬來熊
    • 馬來熊「熊之友」助養計劃
    • 馬來熊「共同助養計劃」
    • 送馬來熊禮物
  • 捐款
  • 志工活動
    • 參與志工活動
    • 志工的故事
  • 購物
  • 聯絡我們
  • 首页
  • 关于我们
    • 总览
    • 中心的历程
    • 我们的使命 >
      • 动物福利
      • 复育计划
      • 马来熊与生态教育
      • 马来熊研究
      • 生态旅游
    • 团队介绍
    • 支持与合作机构/团体
    • 探访本中心 >
      • 活动
      • 过往活动
  • 马来熊
    • 马来熊常识
    • 中心里的马来熊
  • 资源
    • 马来熊电脑桌面背景壁纸(免费下载)
    • 教学资料
    • 时事通讯
    • 年度报告
    • 新闻/媒体
  • 助养马来熊
    • 马来熊“熊之友”助养计划
    • 马来熊“共同助养计划”
    • 送马来熊礼物
  • 捐款
  • 志工活动
    • 参与志工活动
    • 志工的故事
  • 购物
  • 联络我们
  • ホーム
  • BSBCCについて
    • 概要
    • 私たちの歩み
    • 活動内容 >
      • 動物福祉
      • エコツーリズム
      • 教育
      • 保全活動
      • 研究
      • リハビリテーション
      • パートナー & 支援者
    • スタッフ紹介
    • イベント
    • 訪れる
  • マレーグマ
    • マレーグマ知識
    • マレーグマ紹介
  • 情報
    • デスクトップ用壁紙(無料)
    • 学習教材
    • ニュースレター「マレーグマの声」
    • 年間報告書
    • 報道
  • 里親プログラム
    • 里親になる
    • みんなで里親になろう
    • マレーグマへの贈り物
  • 寄付
  • ボランティア
    • ボランティア
    • ボランティア体験談
Picture

HELP US, SUPPORT US​

Sun bears are listed as Vulnerable in IUCN Redlist​
ADOPT OUR SUN BEARS
DONATE NOW

Fun times at BSBCC!

27/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Text and Photos by Emma Hambleton

​Hi, my name is Emma Hambleton, I am a third year environmental science student at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia and I was fortunate enough to have my first volunteering experience at BSBCC in January 2015 with fellow USC students Caitlyn Turner and Hayley Beck.

Picture
Myself, Hayley, Azzry & Caitlyn at the water cascade
Feeling excited but nervous to be leaving Australia I couldn’t wait for my BSBCC volunteering experience to begin.  Arriving in Borneo was a sense of the unknown, where I knew very little about sun bears to begin with and didn’t know what to expect in terms of what Borneo was going to be like.  Our first day at BSBCC was on Monday 12th January 2015.  We were first introduced to BSBCC founder and CEO, Wong Siew Te, we had a chat with him before being introduced to Nick who gave us a thorough introduction to BSBCC.  We then had our first sun bear observing experience – so beautiful!!
Picture
Feeding time for the bears
Our first two weeks at BSBCC consisted of us working around the visitors by either working at the observation platform with other staff or in the information booth.  The first few days at the platform gave us the opportunity to learn about the sun bears by listening to the staff talk to the visitors and, by asking them questions.  After a couple of days of listening and learning about sun bears, we then spoke to visitors and answered any questions that they may have had about the bears.  This helped us to retain the knowledge we had gained and by passing our knowledge on to visitors, it is hoped that they too would spread the word about sun bear conservation.
Picture
Mary relaxing in the rain
Our time in the information booth was spent informing visitors about different devices that are used to track bears, entertain bears (such as enrichment toys), or showing visitors pictures of the behaviour of sun bears who had previously been kept in cages as pets.  Talking to the visitors was somewhat nerve-racking at first, given the fact that I didn’t know much at all about sun bears before arriving in Borneo.  However, after a while, it became a lot easier as I was continuously learning more about sun bears, which then made me more comfortable answering questions from visitors.  I particularly liked working at the observation platform as we got to observe the sun bears and watch them as they played, slept, ate or roamed around in a natural setting.
Picture
Damai patiently waiting for her food
I was super excited in the third week of our stay, which was when we started working in the bear house!  There was never a dull moment.  We would begin the day by feeding the bears their porridge which was always fun/interesting watching the bears eagerly await their breakfast.  After we cleaned the bears’ trays we began cleaning the cages.  Being so close to the sun bears was pretty cool as some tended to watch you as you cleaned the cage beside them.  For instance, the very first cage that I cleaned I left my bucket a little too close to Julaini’s cage and Julaini stole the bucket which was a shock at first. After Julaini had the bucket taken off him I could see Julaini’s sharp claws trying to grab my broom through the cage, this happened most days that I cleaned the cage beside him which made me laugh and I could sense Julaini’s playful personality so it’s safe to say Julaini became one of my favourites because of that.
Picture
Fulung standing on his two hind legs waiting to be fed
After cage cleaning we got to feed the bears in the indoor enclosures which was always fun and interesting to see that, like humans, most of the sun bears didn’t eat banana peel, the green part of watermelon or the skin on any other fruit.  It was cute seeing particular bears eating mannerisms, like the way Sigalung would lay on his back while he ate his fruit.  Once the bears in the bear house were fed we would go and feed the bears in the outside enclosures.  Fulung was usually the first bear we saw as he walked up the hill alongside us most days and would stand on his two hind legs like a human, waiting for his food – so cute!  My favourite days would have to be coconut days.  It amazed me to see how these strong little sun bears could open a coconut from the husk to the inside. This just showed how sharp and strong their teeth and claws are.
Picture
Mary casually enjoying her coconut
Picture
Two besties having their sugar cane
During the afternoon we usually made enrichment for the bears, which was fun, and good exercise, actually getting the materials we needed.  We went for a few separate adventures up the road to collect banana leaves, dry leaves, bamboo, and through the forest to collect termite nests for the sun bears.  Within the two weeks working in the bear house we made nest balls, burgers, bamboo enrichment, and we found termite nests for the bears which usually entertained the bears for around 15-30 minutes.  I loved giving enrichment to the bears, particularly the bears that are not released into outdoor enclosures every day as it gave them something to pass the time away and it also gave them a sense of the wild by doing activities they would typically do in the wild, such as eating termite nests.  This also helped to stop typical sun bear behaviour of pacing or regurgitating for a short time.  It was always fun creating the enrichment as it also gave us time to hear Azzry’s (bear keeper) entertaining stories and jokes as we made the enrichment.  Our time working with Azzry was always entertaining from riding down the hill on an old trolley with 31 coconuts on board for the bears, to having bamboo sawing competitions, to his casual attitude about leeches.  Azzry’s famous quote “it’s onnnlyyy a leech”, are words I’ll never forget.
Picture
The two main highlights of my BSBCC experience were working in the bear house where we were able to get close to the bears, but not too close, by feeding them, cleaning their cages, and giving them enrichment.  Working in the bear house was also the best way to learn each of the sun bears’ different, cute and loveable personalities such as; pretty girl Manis who would stand at the front of her cage with her head resting on her hands after she had finished her food, how Kudat would lie sprawled out with his paws hanging out under the bottom of his cage, how big boy Lingam rested his head on his hands while he watched people walk past from his hammock, how Natalie would watch your every move as you walked past her with food in hand or try and grab banana leaves out of your hand if you weren’t quick enough putting/placing them in her cage, or even the cutest little Mary who would cling to the cage while patiently waiting for her banana leaves in the afternoon – so cute! I could go on forever they are all so adorable and cute!

Although they are so adorable and cute I had to remind myself on several occasions not to get too attached to the bears as they are in there to be rehabilitated and hopefully released back into the wild, so it is a bittersweet feeling knowing that when I do go back next time some of the bears would have been released.
Picture
Jelita which means beautiful in Malay – such a fitting name for this sun bear
Picture
Kuamut playing around in the sticks
The second highlight was working with the staff at BSBCC, they are all the nicest, funniest, kindest, most knowledgeable, helpful, patient and friendliest people you will ever meet.  Everyone at the centre was so welcoming.  It was awesome to see how dedicated Wong and his staff at BSBCC are in rehabilitating the sun bears for their release back into the wild.

It is safe to say that my time volunteering at BSBCC will definitely not be forgotten and I feel so lucky to have been able to do this as part of my university degree thanks to BSBCC and USC.  I had so much fun working with the BSBCC staff and fellow volunteers Amanda, Caitlyn, Fatin and Hayley.  It is a rewarding feeling knowing that we’ve played a slight role in helping these beautiful animals get back out into the wild, or by at least informing others of the current sun bear situation and creating awareness. I would encourage anybody thinking about volunteering at BSBCC to start filling out their application now, it will be an experience you will never forget! I learnt so much in the month that I was at BSBCC and had the time of my life working with everyone at the centre and working so closely to the bears.  It was hard saying goodbye to each and every one of the sun bears and staff at BSBCC. Thanks to Wong and all the staff at BSBCC for giving me such an amazing BSBCC experience!
Picture
Walking to our last day of volunteering at BSBCC – we were all crying on the inside
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008

    Categories

    All
    Ace
    Ah Bui
    Ah Chong
    Ah Lun
    Along
    Amaco
    Animal Abuse
    APE Malaysia
    APE Volunteer
    Awareness
    Awareness Programme
    Batik
    BATs Group
    Bear Behavior
    Bear Cub
    Bear Farming
    Bear House
    Bear Keeper
    Bear Moving
    Bear Rescue
    Beartrek
    Behaviour
    Bermuda
    Betung
    Bintang
    BJ
    Boboi
    Bongkud
    Book
    Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
    Borneo
    BSBCC
    BSBCC In The News
    BSBC UK
    Camera-trap
    Captive-diet
    Captivity
    Centre Opening
    Cerah
    Chin
    Cnn Hero
    Community
    Conference
    Confiscated
    Conservation
    Conservation Action Plan
    Construction
    Damai
    Debbie
    Diana
    Dodop
    Donation
    Education
    Enrichment
    Environmental Education
    Exhibition
    Fence Training
    Filming
    Forest Enclosure
    Fulung
    Fundraising
    Gutuk
    Habitat Destruction
    Habitat Loss
    Habitat-loss
    Health Check
    Human Bear Conflict
    Integration
    Internship
    Itam
    Jelita
    Joe
    Judi Dench
    Julaini
    Kala
    Keningau
    Kina
    Kipaku
    Kitud
    Koko
    Kuamut
    Kudat
    Kukuton
    Lawa
    Leap
    Linggam
    Logan
    Logging
    Loki
    Luna
    Mamatai
    Manis
    Mary
    Montom
    Mou-signing
    Move Bear House
    Nano
    Natalie
    New Bear
    New-enclosure
    New-enclosure
    Noah
    Oakland-zoo
    Om
    Outreach
    Outreach Programme
    Panda
    Pangolin
    Performance
    Pet
    Pet Trade
    Phin
    Poaching
    Presentation
    Publication
    Quarantine
    Rainforest
    Rehabilitation
    Reintroduction
    Release
    Research
    Romolina
    Ronney
    Ronnie
    Ronnie Beruang 34
    Rungus
    Sabah
    Sabah Sun Bear Action Plan
    Sabah Tourism
    Sabah Wildlife Department
    Sanctuary
    Save Sun Bear
    Sbct-uk
    Sbct-uk
    School Visit
    Sigalung
    Sika
    Simone
    Soo
    Staff
    Sun Bear
    Sun Bear In A Wild
    Sun Bear In The News
    Sun Bear In The Wild
    Sun Bear Library
    Sunbearo
    Sun Bear Symposium
    Sun-bear-symposium
    Sun-bear-video-blog
    Supporters
    Suria
    Susie
    Susie Beruang 35
    Tabin Wildlife Reserve
    Tan Tan
    Threats
    Toby
    Tokob
    Tree Nest
    Uncategorized
    Vacancies
    Video
    Vip Visitors
    Visit
    Visitor
    Volunteer
    Wai-pak-ng
    Walk Bear
    Wan Wan
    Wawa
    Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997
    Wildlife-disease
    Wildlife Smuggling
    Wildlife-smuggling
    Wildlife Trade
    Wildlife Trafficking
    Wong Siew Te
    Workshop
    Yayasan Sime Darby
    Yearling

    RSS Feed

Have a question or comment? We welcome all enquiries, so please get in touch from any of the methods below:
​
Contact us

Picture
​ info.bsbcc@gmail.com ​
Picture
​+60 89-534491
Write to us at our
​Postal Address

​
BSBCC,
PPM 219, Elopura,
90000 Sandakan, Sabah,
Malaysia
Contact us on our ​Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

​
​
Click the button below
to fill our Contact Form
​
​

CONTACT FORM
  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Our Journey
    • Events >
      • Past events
    • Meet Our Crew
    • Visit us
    • Our Work >
      • Animal Welfare
      • Ecotourism
      • Rehabilitation
      • Conservation actions
      • Research
      • Education >
        • Virtual Field Trip For Schools >
          • (MALAY) Lawatan Maya Beruang Madu Untuk Pelajar
          • (ENGLISH) Virtual Field Trip for Schools
      • Partners and Supporters
  • Sun Bears
    • Sun bear facts
    • Meet our bears
  • Resources
    • Sun Bear Wallpapers - Free For You
    • Learning Materials
    • Newsletter
    • Annual Report
    • Press
  • Bear Talk Blog
  • Adopt
    • My Bear Adoption
    • Share Bear Adoption
    • Gifts With Meaning
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer programme
    • Volunteer Stories
  • SHOP
  • 首頁
  • 關於我們
    • 總覽
    • 中心的歷程
    • 我們的使命 >
      • 動物福利
      • 復育計劃
      • 馬來熊與生態教育
      • 馬來熊研究
      • 生態旅遊
    • 團隊介紹
    • 支持與合作機構/團體
    • 探訪本中心 >
      • 活動
      • 過往活動
  • 馬來熊
    • 馬來熊常識
    • 中心裡的馬來熊
  • 資源
    • 馬來熊電腦桌面背景壁紙(免費下載)
    • 教學資料
    • 時事通訊
    • 年度報告
    • 新聞/媒體
  • 助養馬來熊
    • 馬來熊「熊之友」助養計劃
    • 馬來熊「共同助養計劃」
    • 送馬來熊禮物
  • 捐款
  • 志工活動
    • 參與志工活動
    • 志工的故事
  • 購物
  • 聯絡我們
  • 首页
  • 关于我们
    • 总览
    • 中心的历程
    • 我们的使命 >
      • 动物福利
      • 复育计划
      • 马来熊与生态教育
      • 马来熊研究
      • 生态旅游
    • 团队介绍
    • 支持与合作机构/团体
    • 探访本中心 >
      • 活动
      • 过往活动
  • 马来熊
    • 马来熊常识
    • 中心里的马来熊
  • 资源
    • 马来熊电脑桌面背景壁纸(免费下载)
    • 教学资料
    • 时事通讯
    • 年度报告
    • 新闻/媒体
  • 助养马来熊
    • 马来熊“熊之友”助养计划
    • 马来熊“共同助养计划”
    • 送马来熊礼物
  • 捐款
  • 志工活动
    • 参与志工活动
    • 志工的故事
  • 购物
  • 联络我们
  • ホーム
  • BSBCCについて
    • 概要
    • 私たちの歩み
    • 活動内容 >
      • 動物福祉
      • エコツーリズム
      • 教育
      • 保全活動
      • 研究
      • リハビリテーション
      • パートナー & 支援者
    • スタッフ紹介
    • イベント
    • 訪れる
  • マレーグマ
    • マレーグマ知識
    • マレーグマ紹介
  • 情報
    • デスクトップ用壁紙(無料)
    • 学習教材
    • ニュースレター「マレーグマの声」
    • 年間報告書
    • 報道
  • 里親プログラム
    • 里親になる
    • みんなで里親になろう
    • マレーグマへの贈り物
  • 寄付
  • ボランティア
    • ボランティア
    • ボランティア体験談