Strong Natured Leader - Wawa

Text and Photos by Chiew Lin May

Weighing her, noting down health status, giving her warm milk formula, preparing favorite fruits, providing different types of enrichment, endless loving care of her bear cub keeper and seeing her as affectionately and protectively as her mother could. 

Let read story from little Wawa to know more about her rescue and rehabilitation process:

" I was found alone without my mother and appeared weak in the Forest Management Unit 16, Pinangah, Telupid District on the 11th of March, 2016."

" It is a great joy to report that I finished my quarantine period on April 18th, 2016."

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

" I always alert with surrounding sounds and smells."

" I absolutely loves all and continues to smile – showing off my silly dark snout and small claws."

" The blood test results have shown I am healthy."

" I was handed to BSBCC on March 18th, 2016 when I was four months old and weighted 4.5kg."

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

Sun bear cubs often play fight to help develop the defense skills they need in the wild. "This is not an exception for me too. I loves pawing and biting my bear cub keeper. I will show off my small canines and claws while playing."

" I love to explores, enjoying my new journey and recovering from trauma and pain."

" I started to climb, move about and build my confidence each day at BSBCC with a good appetite."

Then an inspection of my claws and teeth. Blood and hair samples were collected also."

" I am more bright and alert !!"

" I tends to spend more time digging dead wood, playing and take naps on the small platform."

" I am has gained weight and grown up so fast over the past few months. Today I weighs 8.60 kg."

" On March 20th 2016, Dr. Laura Benedict, a veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Rescue Unit and the BSBCC team performed a general health check on me."

" I absolutely loves all forms of enrichment."

" Dr. Laura sedated me, then made a full assessment of my health status. The assessment included a valuation of my overall health, potential sickness (e.g. signs of distress, ill-health, disease, injury etc.), functioning of the internal organs, pulse, respiration and temperature."

Then an inspection of my claws and teeth. Blood and hair samples were collected also."

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

" Then will hides inside the platform !"

" I absolutely loves all forms of enrichment."

" I was placed into quarantine."

" ​My favorites are milk, termites, papaya, banana and honey!"

" I can be a bit fussy with the things I does not like and will saying “get out of my territory !"

Sun bear cubs are dependent on their mother for two to three years in order to know about survival in the forest. Wawa lost her mother and now she has to learn by herself. Wawa will soon be taken for walks in the forest. She will have a second chance to behave like the wild bear that she is. We will be looking forward her rehabilitation process. She has the strong nature of a leader!