Visit from New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia

We were honoured to welcome H.E. Michael Wehi Mailetonga Walsh, New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia, to our centre today, 16 August 2025.

Our Founder and CEO - Dr Wong Siew Te had the pleasure of showing him around and sharing insights about the incredible sun bears. We hope His Excellency enjoyed the visit as much as we enjoyed hosting him!

A Day of Learning and Smiles at BSBCC

Today, we were quite busy as we welcomed Tadika Kemas Kg. Rancangan, Sandakan, SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Kota Belud, SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Tenom and SJK (C) Pai Wen, Ranau, to our Centre!

It was a joy to share the wonders of the Bornean sun bear and the importance of wildlife conservation with the students and teachers. Special thanks to our amazing interns (Elvie and Hannah) for their hard work in assisting today’s visit!

KIND Malaysia 2025

We are happy to engage lots of other NGOs and agencies throughout the 3-days event with the hope to see more collaborations in the future. See you all again in the future! Thanks KIND Malaysia for inviting us!

Sabah Banteng Day at Tungku, Lahad Datu

Thank you to Sabah Wildlife Department for having us at the Hari Sukan Komuniti & Piala Banteng 2025. It was an amazing opportunity to share about sun bears and connect with the community.

The event featured exhibitions from various agencies, educational talks, food vendors, and exciting community sports — all dedicated to strengthening community bonds and raising conservation awareness for our precious wildlife.

Through Daily Work I Found Meaning with the Bears

Text by Ooi Xun Li

Volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre has been an eye-opening and deeply fulfilling experience. These small yet charismatic bears, native to Borneo Island, are among the most vulnerable due to habitat loss and poaching. As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to contribute to their care, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts.

From preparing their food to cleaning their cages, every task plays an important role in supporting their well-being. But beyond the daily responsibilities, this journey has allowed me to connect with these animals and understand the challenges they face.

One of my main tasks as a volunteer is preparing food for the bears. Since sun bears have a strong natural instinct to forage, I also create enrichment activities especially for one bear named Rudy. I hide food in logs, prepare honey-filled Aussie balls, and resting place where she can enjoy a luxurious rest. These enrichments help keep Rudy physically and mentally stimulated, encourage natural behaviors seen in the wild, and provide a comfortable space to rest in the bear house.

The most challenging but also most rewarding tasks as a volunteer is cleaning the bear cages and carrying out daily fence checks. They are surprisingly messy eaters, and their morning routine often leaves quite the scene! Each day starts with scrubbing, sweeping, and making sure their space stays clean, safe, and comfortable. Basic maintenance is also carried out, such as ensuring the electrical hot wire is properly maintained so it functions well and keeps the bears safely contained within the sanctuary.

After completing the morning routine, my responsibilities shift to more varied tasks. I also take part in hands-on enrichment activities designed to encourage the bears’ natural behaviors. I get to witness their playful curiosity and gentle interactions, offering a glimpse into their journey of recovery from past trauma. Every small action, like creating hidden treat challenges, gives them a chance to relearn essential instincts and contributes to their overall well-being. It’s a deeply rewarding part of the day, helping these remarkable animals reconnect with the wild side of themselves.

Reflecting on my journey as a volunteer at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, I’ve come to realize that every moment spent caring for these incredible bear contributes to a larger mission of wildlife conservation. As the day ends, I carry with me the hope that every act of care, no matter how small it is, plays a part in protecting these unique creatures for future generations.

The bear keeper also very lovely and kind so that I can learn many knowledge and experience in a short time. Especially my buddy, Azwie. I encourage more people to participate on volunteer program, together we can make nature safer, more peaceful world one free from poaching for sun bears and all of our precious wildlife.

Rudy is a 7-year-old female sun bear rescued from the West Coast Division of Sabah. She was once kept illegally as a pet before being rescued. Rudy is a shy bear who prefers to watch everything from a distance. Her quiet nature makes her unique and special bear

It’s Log n’ Roll time! Let’s see how Rudy takes on this tasty challenge.

Creating enrichment like Log n’ Roll isn’t just about giving bears something to do, it’s about reconnecting them with the wild instincts they were born with. Today, I built this for Rudy, hoping it brings her both challenge and joy. I named it ‘Log n’ Roll’ not just because it’s made from a log, but because it invites movement, curiosity, and a playful rhythm just like rock n’ roll!

Making sure Rudy and her friends stay safe means more than just caring for them. I also helped with fence maintenance to keep their enclosures secure

Rudy’s quiet gaze from a distance. While other bears rush out, Rudy prefers to pause and watch. This is her way of exploring. Slow, cautious, and always observing first. She sees you, even if you can barely see her.

My Volunteering Experience at BSBCC

Text by Chan Wei Jun

My name is Chan Wei Jun, a student currently awaiting my results. I have always loved wildlife and nature, and by chance, I had the opportunity to attend a speech by Dr. Wong Siew Te at my high school. During his talk about sun bears, the word 'DEDICATION' truly inspired me. It motivated me to embark on this incredible volunteering journey, and I was thrilled to be part of it.

I had an amazing time at BSBCC. Though my volunteering period was short, it significantly broadened my horizons to see how a wildlife conservation work. I gained valuable knowledge about sun bears, thanks to the staff who were always willing to share their insights, especially my buddy, Izlan. I witnessed the passion and dedication of every staff member. Even though the job was physically demanding, everyone gave their best to protect the sun bears. Their unwavering commitment was truly inspiring. I deeply admire the people at BSBCC and have immense respect for all the bear keepers and staff. Their work is genuinely impressive.

One of the most unforgettable moments for me was the opportunity to observe a health check, thanks to BSBCC's veterinarian. The experience reaffirmed my aspiration to become a veterinarian. During my time as a volunteer, I was also given the task of creating enrichment activities for the bears. Together with Izlan, we designed and built an enrichment structure called 'Along’s Rescue Plan' for a bear named Along. Along was the first bear I remembered, a bear known for his sudden shifts in behaviour and intense personality. It was heartbreaking to see how easily Along became stressed, and often showing signs of stereotypical behaviour. In captive animals, especially those with a traumatic past, this kind of repetitive, abnormal behaviour is a common sign of psychological distress. Knowing this, I felt the urge to do something meaningful, to create enrichment that could help keep his mind engaged and reduce his stress level.

I carefully designed the interior with leaves and natural elements to resemble the forest environment as closely as possible. This setup helps stimulate Along’s senses and encourages natural behaviours like foraging and climbing, even when he’s inside the bear house. Since the bears take turns using the outdoor enclosure, there are times when Along must remain inside. Enrichment like this is important to keep him mentally and physically active during those periods. Watching him interact with our handmade enrichment was such a rewarding moment. I hope future volunteers will continue building new enrichments for him, so he always has something meaningful to interact with.

One of my biggest personal achievements during this experience was stepping out of my comfort zone and overcoming my fears. I used to be afraid of insects and leeches, but after encountering them firsthand, I realized they weren’t as frightening as I had imagined. I also gained many new skills, including cutting techniques, basic survival skills, and how to use various tools and machines.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at BSBCC for their warm welcome and unwavering guidance throughout my volunteering journey. Their kindness and dedication made this experience truly meaningful. I hope my journey inspires others to recognize the vital role we all play in conserving and protecting our natural world.

This has been an extraordinary and transformative experience! One that I will treasure for a lifetime.

The team gave it a go first!!

Not just a log. It's a scent-loaded, treat-filled enrichment

Creating a Forest Feel for Along’s Time Inside the Bear House

Huge thanks to Izlan for making this enrichment project for Along a success!

Along’s den of surprises! designed to keep him curious and active.

Every good enrichment deserves a proper test run… even by the builder (Me)!

SMK Bongkol, Pitas Visit

We were delighted to welcome students and teachers from SMK Bongkol Pitas to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre today!

We hope they had a meaningful visit and gained a deeper understanding of the importance of sun bear conservation. May this experience inspire them to become voices for sun bears for our precious rainforests!