The Alexander Abraham Foundation visit BSBCC

The following posting was written by Brinne Walsh, Executive Director of the Alexander Abraham Foundation. Brie visited several sites and project supported by AAF in Sabah early this month including BSBCC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time we reached the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, the sun was high, and the day was hot.  We interrupted the Sun Bears during their siesta, asleep in their baskets. The first bear that greeted us was Suria, the baby of the group at the Centre. She came immediately to the front of her cage, and sniffed us out. After three days in the rainforest, I’m sure we smelt terribly, but it didn’t seem to scare her off. It was hard not to reach in and rub her head, despite her long claws. She was so adorable. ​

Our guide was Wai Pak, the head keeper at the Conservation Center Centre. He works for Wong, who is one of the sole crusaders working to save the Sun Bears in Southeast Asia. At the Centre, Wong and his staff care for orphaned Sun Bears.  Currently the twelve Sun Bears are trapped in their cages all day, as there is no place for them to be re-introduced into the wild. Many of them, including Suria, have only walked free for a few hours in during their brief lives. Their stories are heartbreaking. 

Wong wants to change the situation for the Sun Bears under his care. He has very bold plans to build up the Conservation Centre, which will allow the Sunbears to roam free in natural rainforest enclosures. Currently, the building is only in the first stage of construction. Wong needs to raise a lot more money before he can complete his plan. His work is incredibly important. I hope that I am able to help him raise not only money, but also awareness for the Sun Bears in New York, and around the USA.  


Brienne Walsh
Executive Director
The Alexander Abraham Foundation