The Mischievous Kipaku

Text and photos by Effa Denis (UNIMAS Internship Student 2024)

In the heart of a lush, green forest, lived a sun bear named Kipaku. He was rescued from a life no bear should ever have—once an illegal pet, Kipaku had been kept in a cage and raised by humans. Growing up without his birth mother left him with an unnatural bear behavior of “suckling” which bear cubs develop due to seeking comfort from their mothers. But his days of confinement were over. Now, his forest enclosure is his kingdom, and Kipaku ruled it with boundless joy.

Kipaku’s spirit - curious, mischievous, and full of life – really showed when he started his life at BSBCC. His past as a captive is now a distant memory, replaced by the thrill of the forest that surrounded him. Kipaku’s story was no longer one of pain but of renewal and hope.

We love seeing Kipaku be his playful self in the forest enclosure. Climbing tall trees, breaking every branch and vine in his way from swinging from it. His naughty behavior sometimes makes his keepers worry he will hurt himself!

Our rainforests are more than just Kipaku’s playground—they are his lifeline. The variety of plants and animals all work together to create a delicate balance that sun bears are a part of and also depend on for survival. Without these forests, bears like Kipaku would lose their homes, their food sources, and their very way of life. As deforestation threatens these habitats, sun bears face the dangers of losing their natural environment, forcing them into more vulnerable situations where they are at risk of being poached or captured.

By protecting our forests, we are protecting Kipaku’s future and ensuring that generations of sun bears after him can live wild and free, climbing trees, and exploring the world with the same playful spirit. Every tree we save, every forest we preserve, is a step toward securing the survival of these magnificent creatures and the world they inhabit.