Singing of Freedom

Text by Chiew Lin May
Photos by Azzry Dusain, Tee Thye Lim, Seng Yen Wah and Chiew Lin May

Without the BSBCC, many captive sun bears would still live in small cages without HOPE; without the BSBCC many people in the world still would not know there is a bear species called the sun bear
​– CEO & Founder, Dr. (Hon) Wong Siew Te, D.J.N

​​Poaching, pet trade and loss of habitat continue to pose a MAJOR threat to the survival of sun bears. Mother bears are often killed and their infants are sold in the illegal wildlife pet trade. Sun bears are very similar to humans - they cannot survive on their own without their mothers. It is tragic that sun bears are still being found orphaned. Sun bear populations have declined by more than 30% in the past 30 years, leaving the danger of imminent extinction in the wild a very real possibility.
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Sun Bear continues to be a target for the demand in traditional medicine and exotic meat

" Sport hunting" pictures on Facebook!

" Sport hunting" pictures on Facebook!

Hunters posing with a slaughtered sun bear in Sarawak.

The carcass of an adult sun bear floating in Kinabatangan River, Sabah.

A sun bear carcass cut in half.

Protected animals online trade rampant in Malaysia

Sun bears caged for tourists entertainment - Trapped in solitary confinement and immensely stressed.

A bear was killed on the road of Durian Mas Dungun, Kelatan.

A sun bear was killed after it was knocked down by a car at Km358 of the East Coast Highway2 (LPT2) near an orchard.

Two men from Sabah were arrested by Malaysian authorities for trying to sell body parts of protected Malayan sun bears.

Sun bear population is already under serious threat from loss of the rainforest HOME due to agricultural development

Sun bear population is already under serious threat from loss of the rainforest HOME due to agricultural development

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre’s (BSBCC) CEO and Founder, Dr. Wong Siew Te has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to raise awareness and save the “forgotten bear species”. Wong founded the BSBCC in 2008 with the goal to conserve sun bears through a holistic approach that of improves the welfare of rescued sun bears, rehabilitation, education and research. Wong was one of the greatest sun bear conservationists.
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​The BSBCC has received 55 rescued sun bears since its foundation. Currently there are 44 rescued sun bears housed at the BSBCC. Sadly, we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of sun bears arriving at the centre in 2016. This trend is worrying as it shows that poaching is still going wild with rampant sale of sun bears or illegal bear bile medicine over websites and the numbers will continue to rise rapidly until drastic measures are taken to protect sun bears.
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BSBCC started with 8 rescued sun bears in 2008, and now have 44 sun bears.

A one year old female sun bear cub Dodop had been kept illegally as house pet by residents in Singgaron village, Ranau district Sabah who had spent over one year in the smallest cage and arrived at BSBCC on June 2nd, 2016. It was found that the Dodop was missing all four of her milk canines.

A three months old female sun bear cub Tan-Tan was bought by a person with the purpose of rescuing her from being sold in the remote region of Paitan. Most of the bears arrived at our centre will have in different conditions- frightened, stress and with wounds common to bears rescued from pet trade.

Sika was found by a foreigner who travelled to the village of Sikalabaan, in Pensiangan district, located in the interior division of Sabah. A three months old female sun bear cub Sika was keeping in a chicken mesh cage as a pet. She was previously fed condense milk, fruits and cereal.

A lady decided to rescue an one years old male sun bear cub Nano when she saw Nano was kept in a small chicken mesh cage in Kota Marudu, north of Sabah. She purchased him from the seller for a price of RM1,500, with the purpose of saving his life. Nano was surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department and arrive at BSBCC on November 20, 2016.

Noah, a three months old sun bear cub was surrendered by a villager and was found roaming alone at a villager’s orchard without his mother .

Kina's owner claimed that Kina’s mother was crossing a road and got frightened then just ran away and left Kina behind. Kina was just a bear cub and had not even opened her eyes yet. Hence, her owner took Kina and kept her as pet for more than a year.

A three months old female sun bear cub was bought by someone in Kalabakan-Sapulut road nearby Maliau Basin with the intention of saving the cub then to be surrender to the Sabah Wildlife Department. Kala was emaciated, dehydrated and malnourished. She was very small with her weight was just 3 kg.

​BSBCC has been able to rehabilitate these orphaned sun bears after their years of trauma from being locked up in small cages and sold in the pet trade. Most of our bears have had an extremely difficult lives having witnessed the death of their mother, traumatic experiences through being sold as a pet, suffered unimaginable abuse, infected wounds and poor diet. Being taken away from all of that they had known...many will show stereotypical behavior and will growl in fear. 

This has all changed with the greatly appreciated help from Sabah Wildlife Department. They assist in providing care and medical treatment for rescued bears. Our rescued bears will receive round the clock care from our Bear care team by helping and encouraging the bears to build up their strength as well as learning to trust their cares. 
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Dr. Wong handling the rescued sun bear cub, Tan-Tan.

Many rescued sun bears has been spent caged and live in terrible conditions. We need to fighting to save them!!

The rescued bears will safely unloaded and getting settled into BSBCC quarantine. They will surely learn the delights of wild bear life.

Veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department will conduct a full physical examination health check for all the rescued bears in BSBCC.

Veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department will conduct a full physical examination health check for all the rescued bears in BSBCC.

Enriching the lives of these rescued bears is an important part of bear management, which improves the bears’ lives by giving them a second chance to survive in the wild. We will make sure that the bears are having their choices and freedom. Little by little, after each rescued bear has passed their quarantine period, they will move on to the next step in the Bear house – a peaceful and safe place they have deserved all their life! Integrating with new friends, giving them access to forest enclosures for them to learn pertinent skills for survival and last but not least get them ready to be back into the WILD.

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Bear care team always provide rescued sun bear with everything they needs to put the past behind them and look forward to a better life as wild bear.

The team not only prepares sweet treats, but also not forgets to provide them superb durable structure enrichment for our special care bears.

Working hard making enrichment for sun bears.

Hammock Amok Project for sun bears!! APE Malaysia is carrying over 600 kg of fire hoses to make a total of 55 fire hose enrichment items for 44 sun bears. Their efforts are making a difference!!

Integral to rescued bears' recovery from trauma, the team are constantly coming up with new idea to stimulate and encourage bear survival skills.

Lot of lovely bear arts from our wonderful volunteers!

A more natural environment will be providing for the bears so they have the chance to behave like the wild bear that they are.

Making enrichment to keep the bears physically and mentally stimulated, enriching their lives so that the bears can exhibit as many natural behaviours as possible. Each bear will introduce to new foods, toys, bear friend and environment.

We hope the bears will like the enrichment!!

We hope by building this ramp structure will help the rescued bears access freely to forest enclosure and allow them to live out the rest of their days free from pain and fear.

A variety of climbing structure to help the bears developing the skills and the strength they will need when they are eventually released back into the wild.

Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.

Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.

Our rescued bears will be given balanced diet that comprises fruits and protein to maintaining good health of bears.

Walking sun bear cub in forest – the cub will learn what their mother will teach them- how to forage wild food, climbing tree top, building nest, avoid stranger and defense skills.

The rescued cub is under quarantine and is being given round the clock care by her surrogate mother.

Sun bear cubs requires round-the-clock care to help recovery.

The team will observe bear behaviour to ensure the bear have learn skills that they need before return to wild. The release candidates are chosen based on their age and survival skills.

​Even relishing every chop of fresh fruit, playing with their enrichment, roaming the forest, foraging for insects, inquisitive, exploring, snoozing, climbing trees, finding HONEY bees, enjoying the sunshine, tapping to check weak points of dead logs and building tree nests, play fighting with their fellow bears in the BSBCC. No more pain and letting go of the traumatic life – perhaps they are enjoying the smell of freedom !​!

Let look how our rescued sun bears learn become wild bear!!
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Next step of the rehabilitation is access out to forest enclosure to encourage the rescued bears to forage and living in tree top as they would in the forest with their mothers.

Tan- Tan is such a cheeky sun bear. Slowly she learn and happy to leave her past life behind.

Enrichment will be given to rescue bears to reduce the suffering from serious stereotypic behaviours such as pacing, repetitive behavior of banging themselves against bars and obsessive licking.

Love all enrichment! Eat anything and everything till mouthful!

The fastest bear explore on the bamboo feeder enrichment!

Small steps on a long road to recovery.

Nano was settled down in quarantine and listening to the forest sound around him.

It was a little miracle!

Feeling of getting outside on a warm sun and summer day with free bars of their cages !!

A blessing!! Enjoy at the sun and sniffing the forest air.

Her eagerness to explore...

Polite Greeting from Sunbearo!

"The best enrichment for a captive sun bear is another sun bear"

Bintang is a bear that enjoys climbing trees, playing and wrestling with her friends.

Looks at their smile!!

Sun bear is arboreal bear! They loves spend most of their time in trees, where they forage fruits and build sleeping nest. So lots climbing skills through the forest canopy is needed when they are young.

Gasps with thirst in the shadow of the morning sun!

They have more than earned that take a nap under the sun.

Big smile from Susie!!

Beautiful smile that says " They really love their forest home!"

Sun bear is a very good in tree climbing.

Fulung was determined to make the best of the time to foraging wild food!!

Little Noah loves his first gift !!

Ah Lun love climbing tree with sitting on her favorite branch.

Chiiling in the pool !!

Dedicates her life to catching every bug, Ever!

With a fast flicking long tongue enable sun bear to reach into cavities in trees to eat their favourite food- termites and insects!

After a rough start to life...

She is an absolute sweetheart bear !

Bintang is making it clear to her bear fiend that she is ready to play!

Wonderful HOME they deserve!! - Rainforest

Snooze away beautiful bear!

The bears foraging forest floor in search of beetles, termites and invertebrates.

Damai is spending more time by herself, foraging more in areas away from other sun bear friends.

Sun bear's sharp claws and long tongues make them adapt at reaching into dead tree to locate food.

It is very encouraging that Tan -Tan is developing these forest skills by herself where she is proving that she has many suitable skills to be released in the future.

In their heart of hearts, they really just want peaceful and forest life! No hunting please!

It is wonderful to observe that arboreal and tree climbing behaviour is such a strong instinct for these sun bears.

So delicious! Enjoyed their first ever BEST treat!!

Susie cannot keep her eyes off anything and everything - especially when it comes to food.

Most of you still remember Mary, a two months old sun bear cub that she was held captive in a cage as pet. She was found to be very malnourished when she first came to BSBCC because her previous owner did not fed her with milk. Her growth stunted and walking in an abnormal way. Now, Mary has improved a lot where every day for her is a treat of good food, friend and freedom.

Boboy is one of the most curious sun bear and he will enthusiasm on lookout for new adventures in forest.

Clearly loving their special LIFE!

Clearly loving their special LIFE!

Just the best!! Damai loves hugs from her best friend Bintang.

Forget about it for minutes in sun, and dreaming about having some Honey!

See how Kitud thinking of the real bear world?

So good!! Can focus with sunbathing time!

"Likes forest soil better than lock inside the small cage!" - Kala

So much to tell !! A huge thanks to you all rescue and save the smallest bear!

On May 16, 2015 the first rehabilitated sun bear (Natalie, a five years old adult female sun bear) returns to the WILD.

On July 24, 2016 second rehabilitated sun bear (Lawa, a nine years old adult female sun bear) returns to the WILD.

Every individual sun bear at BSBCC has their own personality. They are growing independent every day. Strong characters like Amaco, Diana, Tan-Tan, Wawa and Nano have emerged. Slowly the rescued bears realize with their new life that they are now in a different, safer, healthier, and happier bear world which is their own. 


​For example: Tan-Tan is the holder of the record breaking all records among all sun bear cubs we have had so far: At six months old she could construct a little nest in the tree using broken twigs and leaves. It was truly amazing to see! 

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​Besides that, due to the emotional trauma that resulted from his being kept as pet, Nano was very stressed and in pain. After one year, Nano finally has reduced his stereotypical behavior by spending more time with his bear friend, Noah. He is on the road to recovery. We tear up just thinking how Nano has finally overcome his fear...

Sun bears are beautiful animals in nature. They deserve the chance to go back to the deep forest and to become a WILD bear. We all have two things that the sun bears do not, which is a voice and freedom. Please use your voice to help them and stop the hunting or killing of sun bears, we can make a difference to their future survival. Together we must save the sun bears!

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​On behalf of our rescued bears, a big bark THANKS to Wong, our supporters, funders, volunteers, friends and bear care team for taking care, supporting and loving them!