Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Our Journey
    • Meet Our Crew
    • Events >
      • Past events
    • Visit us
    • Our Work >
      • Animal Welfare
      • Ecotourism
      • Rehabilitation
      • Conservation actions
      • Research
      • Education
      • 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

GREEN: Where bears roam free

22/2/2014

0 Comments

 
New Straits Times, 22nd February 2014
By Evangeline Majawat
he Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre recently opened its doors to the public. Evangeline Majawat was thereON the last tracts of remaining forest at the edge of Sandakan, some of Sabah’s best conservationists gathered to celebrate six years of hard work and congratulate each other on a job well done.
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), the fruit of their labour, is finally open to the public. Located next to the famed Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, it serves as a sanctuary and rehabilitation centre for the world’s smallest bears or beruang madu (Helarctos malayanus).
“Getting the centre up and running is a big achievement. But the real work starts now,” said BSBCC founder Wong Siew Te at the soft launch recently. “Now, we have to work even harder.”
The not-for-profit centre is significant, not only because it is the first and only such facility in the country but it is also the first institution which was borne out of the successful collaboration between two State government departments — Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Department — and non-governmental organisation Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP). Before this, conservation projects in Sabah were undertaken by the respective departments.
LITTLE KNOWN BEARS
The hulking figure paced uneasily before it stopped to sniff the air. Its nose twitched furiously as it sauntered to the nearest tree. With surprising speed and dexterity Wan Wan, an 8-year-old sun bear, scaled the tree. Below it, Wan Wan’s loyal companion Mamatai inspected a pile of leaves.
Wan Wan and Mamatai are among the 28 rescued bears that live in BSBCC. Their stories are similar: They were either rescued from poachers or people who kept them as pets. The bears are usually found in dire conditions — malnourished and imprisoned in small cages.
Like the orang utan, sun bears are listed as totally protected species under Sabah’s wildlife laws. Despite a blanket ban on hunting or owning the animal, or any of its parts or products, illegal hunting and poaching are rampant.
Bear bile is popular in traditional medicine and its parts, the paws, especially, are considered a delicacy. Due to its relatively small size, people have attempted to keep these mammals as pets. One bear was found straying in the affluent suburb of Damai, about half an hour’s drive from Kota Kinabalu. The bear named Damai was believed to have escaped from her cage, and was discovered when a resident got up to check on his pet dog that had been barking incessantly. At the centre, the sun bears get a taste of life in the wild in one hectare of tropical rainforests, an area slightly bigger than a football field. The sun bears roam the forest and learn skills that their mothers would have taught them in the wild. There are many trees to climb and dead logs to explore.
BSBCC IS SPECIAL
When Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said in his speech that he was “really, really most impressed” by the centre, he echoed the thoughts of those present at the soft launch.
Unlike the standard government building designs that feature tinted windows, endless tiles and air-conditioned rooms, BSBCC’s visitor centre is spacious, naturally lit and well ventilated. Arkitrek, the architecture firm behind the plans, applied passive design theory to keep the building naturally cool at all times. The BSBCC office is the only air-conditioned space.
Arkitrek also recycled timber from the old rhinoceros enclosure which is now the site for the bear houses. The timber posts and planks were turned into counter tops and furnishings in the visitor centre. One particular timber post is a poignant memorial for Gelugob, one of the last 10 Sumatran rhinos in captivity, which died on Jan 11. The post, polished smooth by Gelugob and the other rhinos’ constant rubbing, stands tall by the entrance boardwalk.
Award-winning Singaporean landscape architecture firm Salad Dressing was roped in to beautify and create a welcoming atmosphere.
NEXT STEPS
There are four key pillars to sun bear conservation according to Wong. The first is to get the centre up and running.
“The second is education. Then there is research and rehabilitation of the sun bears.”
He says the BSBCC team will engage schools, corporations and traditional medicine practitioners as well as shop owners this year. “We will reach out to these medicine men one by one, and via their associations. We must convince
them not to sell bear parts or products. We must tell them how bad the situation is,” says Wong. “We want to educate them and the public about sun bears and their role in the jungle. It’s about giving people the big picture about protecting our environment.”
“My bid is to protect the (wildlife) habitat so we don’t need another sun bear conservation centre. It serves a great purpose but it is because somewhere along the lines, we didn’t do better,” says Mannan.
LEAP executive director Cynthia Ong struck a chord when she emphasised that sincerity about conservation efforts is of utmost importance.
“Some of us get lured by being heroes and martyrs and getting funds and fame from the purpose. This is a reminder to myself and to all of us that that is losing the plot,” she says.
“(When) you see the bears in the forest, (you will see) that it is about them, how we’re coexisting together and what has happened to their habitat so that we need this centre. We didn’t need it in the past.”
Picture
Picture
Visitors will be able to observe the rescued sun bears from the observation platform. Picture courtesy of Cede Prudente
Picture
(From left) Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu, Ong and Manna. Picture courtesy of LEAP
Picture
Picture
Picture
Sun bears are the smallest of the eight bear species in the world. Picture courtesy of BSBCC.
Picture
The visitor centre. Picture courtesy of LEAP
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    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
    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
    • Meet Our Crew
    • Events >
      • Past events
    • Visit us
    • Our Work >
      • Animal Welfare
      • Ecotourism
      • Rehabilitation
      • Conservation actions
      • Research
      • Education
      • 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