Sun Bear Day Celebration 2019

Every year on the 16th of May, BSBCC celebrate Sun Bear Day to raise awareness toward the conservation of the vulnerable sun bear. This year, as the 3rd years of celebrations, the Sun Bear Day was celebrated with the slogan ‘End Illegal Hunting’ as the theme. Illegal hunting has been identified as one of the major cause of decline in sun bear population, thus leaving them as Vulnerable in the IUCN Redlist; Sun Bear Day is a very good approach to attract more people especially the local to join and support us to protect this priceless treasure. As for the celebration, it was indeed a very joyful celebration, with various activities incorporated with the main purpose to spread education and supporting the conservation cause for the sun bears. Several local primary schools had been invited to join our Sun Bear Explorace, a race for the children to compete healthily among each other as they gather information and learn more about the sun bear. They also involve in a short drama competition with the theme related to end illegal hunting; a platform to improve their understanding about the plight of the sun bear and also sharpening their co-curricular skills. Another competition done was the Kahoot Challenge; an online quiz aimed to the secondary students to improve their knowledge on the sun bear. Beside of that, visitors and secondary schools students coming on this day got the opportunity to get involved on a hands on experience to make some of the bears favorite enrichments, essential in helping the sun bears to grasp the skills they need to live in the wild. The visitors also seized the chance to win exclusive lucky draw prizes, getting henna and airbrush tattoos of sun bears and also getting some taste of refreshing various flavoured drinks from Gen.Z booth that helped to promote and support sun bears via the sale of their drinks. And off course, the most handsome sun bear in the world, Sunny the Sun Bear also made his special appearance throughout the event. The Sun Bear Day coincided with the birthday of the Founder and CEO of BSBCC, Dr. Wong Siew Te, who spends more than 20 years of his life to protect and raise awareness for the sun bear. (The sun bears barked in joy and thank you Dr. Wong for your relentless and tireless effort for them!) On top of that, the celebration itself got a surprise visit from the Member of Parliament of Sandakan, YB Vivian Wong Shir Yee, who got herself tour guided personally by Dr. Wong Siew Te and also having the chance to interact around with the children and public in BSBCC. (Big thanks to YB Vivian Wong Shir Yee for the visit to BSBCC). We at BSBCC greatly appreciate all those who had joined and cooperated in making this year’s Sun Bear Day a major success. Special thanks to Politeknik Sandakan and Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Sandakan for the volunteers and logistic support; our cooperation will not stop here, we will be looking forward to cooperate again on any upcoming event. To all supporters and visitors, see you all again next year!