Eye Examination on Julaini
Thank you to Dr Chiang and his team of ophthalmologists from Hospital Duchess of Kent (HDOK), in collaboration with Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC) Dr Yohind for doing an eye examination on Julaini!
Julaini, as everyone knows as our wrinkled friend, has cataract in his left eye. However, even with the cataract he does not seem to have any problems finding his way around the forest! You can easily spot him on our viewing platform, hanging out with his buddies – Ah Lun, Fulung and Ah Bui – and usually covered head to toe in dirt.
Upon examination, we found out that Julaini has no vision in his left eye and removing the cataract will only bring aesthetic benefits rather than repairing his vision. Therefore, the decision was to manage conservatively with eye drops medication. Even so, this does not affect his quality of life and Julaini is still the happy bear that he is! Julaini is adapting well with one eye vision.
Big thank you again to everyone involved in this procedure. Big thanks to Yayasan Hasanah and Kementerian Kewangan for supporting our efforts to give our bears the best medical care.
Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) for Bornean Sun Bears!
Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) is a cornerstone of modern animal care and conservation efforts. It's a method that rewards desired behaviours, encouraging animals to perform them, thus facilitating easier management and care.
The success of PRT depends on the trust between keepers and the bears. The dedication and commitment of the keepers are fundamental in creating bonding and developing trust with the bears.
The PRT process begins with identifying the purpose and behaviours we want to encourage in the bears. These behaviours could be as simple as responding to a name, or more complex like allowing a veterinary examination. A clicker is used as a ‘bridge’ to communicate with the bears, that it has the correct behaviour and will be reinforced with a reward system.
Amaco, 30 years, the oldest sun bear in BSBCC, is no longer active in playing, and therefore he tends to have overgrown claws that can affect his walking stance. Via PRT session, Amaco allows the keepers to trim the claws. He also knows to open his mouth big for oral examination. The outcome is very encouraging and significantly promotes general well-being. The number of general anaesthesia can be greatly reduced as well through Amaco’s participation in PRT. In a geriatric animal, general anaesthesia is a risky procedure.
Thank you to Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for always supporting BSBCC's conservation efforts. PRT allows us to perform necessary health checks and medical procedures with minimal stress to the bears, provides mental stimulation, and promotes general well-being. We look forward to seeing improvement in the health and well-being of our bears via PRT.
Amaco, 30 years, the oldest sun bear in BSBCC, is no longer active in playing, and therefore he tends to have overgrown claws that can affect his walking stance. Via PRT session, Amaco allows the keepers to trim the claws.
He also knows to open his mouth big for oral examination. The outcome is very encouraging, significantly promotes general wellbeing. The number of general anaesthesia can be greatly reduced as well through Amaco’s participation in PRT. In a geriatric animal, general anaesthesia is a risky procedure.
PRT is an invaluable tool in the care and management of Bornean Sun Bears. It allows us to perform necessary health checks and medical procedures with minimal stress to the bears, provides mental stimulation, and promote general well beings. We look forward to seeing improvement in the health and wellbeing of our bears via PRT.
One of our other residents, Julaini, also has PRT done. He has cataract in his left eye and PRT allows us to examine this eye closer.
The Roles of PRT:
1. Enrichment and Mental stimulation:
The PRT is an exercise to develop trust between the bears and keepers. PRT encourages cognitive development and stimulates positive emotion. The bears will find the exercise pleasant and, hence anticipate more of such interactions.
2. Health Management
The PRT shaped the bears to participate in medical examinations, such as claw trimming, oral examination, and physical examination. To a more advanced stage, the animals will voluntarily participate in sampling and diagnosis such as blood drawing, hair sampling, vulva swab for cytology, pregnancy scan with ultrasound etc.
Keeper Diaries: Rotten Log Enrichment - A Delight for Ronnie Boy
Today, I’m set to provide an enriching experience for one of my most cherished bears, Ronnie Boy. Unfortunately, due to previous trauma, Ronnie Boy does not like to go into the forest enclosure after years of coaxing and fence training. Therefore, I’ve decided to bring a piece of the forest to him in the form of a rotten log enrichment. This will not only stimulate his natural behaviors but hopefully also bring him some joy.
After searching through the forest, I found the most perfect rotten log. This log is not just any log, but a carefully selected one, teeming with the rich, earthy scents and textures that Sun Bears find irresistible. Two key ingredients were then used – peanut butter and pandan coconut essence – which are very popular amongst many of our bears. The combination of the peanut butter’s nutty flavor and the pandan coconut essence’s sweet scent creates an irresistible attraction for Ronnie Boy. As he approaches the log, his keen sense of smell is immediately drawn to the enticing mixture.
Ronnie Boy is a mellow and sweet bear so I do not expect a big reaction out of him. He slowly approaches the log in curiosity and starts licking the log realizing there are tasty treats inside! His long, sharp claws then come into play, helping him dig into the log to reach the delicious rewards hidden within.
This enrichment helps Ronnie Boy to exercise (crucial for a captive bear who doesn’t want to go outside) and also enhances his natural behaviors such as foraging. Ronnie Boy is one of our residents who aren’t so lucky and due to the trauma of living in captivity all his life, he has no intention of going outside and enjoying the beautiful forest environment. With this, we are only able to do our part and try to give him the best life indoors.
Thank you to the Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for always supporting our work. This allows us to help all our bears even with whatever situation they may be in. Ronnie Boy will always be loved by his keepers even if he chooses not to go outside!
After searching through the forest, I found the most perfect rotten log. This log is not just any log, but a carefully selected one, teeming with the rich, earthy scents and textures that Sun Bears find irresistible. Two key ingredients were then used – peanut butter and pandan coconut essence – which are very popular amongst many of our bears.
Due to the combination of the peanut butter’s nutty flavor and the pandan coconut essence’s sweet scent, this creates an irresistible attraction for Ronnie Boy.
As he approaches the log, his keen sense of smell is immediately drawn to the enticing mixture. Ronnie Boy is a mellow and sweet bear so I do not expect a big reaction out of him. He slowly approaches the log in curiosity and starts licking the log realizing there are tasty treats inside! His long, sharp claws then come into play, helping him dig into the log to reach the delicious rewards hidden within.
SJK(C) Pei Ying Visit
Thank you for SJK (C) Pei Ying for the visit today! We are glad we can spread the word about our efforts to save Sun Bears and raise their awareness about nature and wildlife conservation. We hope they enjoyed the visit and gaining new knowledge about our precious Sun Bears.
Keeper Diaries: Firehose Enrichment
Fire hose enrichment is a popular and effective way to provide stimulation and challenge for captive animals, especially for those who like to bite, chew, tug, and manipulate objects. Fire hose is a durable and versatile material that can be cut and shaped into various configurations, such as braids, knots, rings, hammocks, and more. Fire hose enrichment can also be combined with other materials, such as food, scents, or toys, to increase the attractiveness and complexity of the device.
For Kwong, a male sun bear at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), we have prepared a special fire hose enrichment that incorporates some of his favourite things: watermelon, ginger leaves, and vegemite. Watermelon and ginger leaves are nutritious and tasty treats for sun bears, who are omnivorous and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, and insects in the wild. Vegemite is a savoury spread made from yeast extract that has a strong and distinctive flavour that sun bears find irresistible. The vegemite was brought and donated to BSBCC all the way from Australia by Judy (Thank you Judy!)
We stuffed the watermelon and ginger leaves inside a one-meter long fire hose, and applied some vegemite at the hole of the fire hose. This will encourage Kwong to use his powerful jaws, claws, and tongue to access the food inside the hose. Sun bears have the longest tongue among all bear species, which can reach up to 25 cm in length. They use their tongue to extract honey, termites, and other food from tree holes and crevices. By mimicking this natural behaviour, the fire hose enrichment will provide Kwong with physical and mental stimulation, as well as a rewarding and satisfying meal. Kwong absolutely loved this (as you can see in the videos!). It did take him a while to figure out how to reach the food in the middle of the firehose but eventually he learnt that if he stepped on the foods in the middle of the hose, it will be squeezed out like toothpaste. After devouring all the tasty snacks in the middle, he proceeded to play with the hose itself – bringing it all the way up to his resting spot on his log and waving it around like he just don’t care.
Enrichment is a way of providing animals in captivity with stimuli that encourage them to display natural behaviours, such as foraging, exploring, nesting, grooming, and playing. It is great because it can improve their physical and mental health, reduce stress and boredom, and increase their activity and well-being. Therefore, we would like to thank our supporters Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for giving us the ability to provide enrichment for all our bears.
Thank you for the vegemite, Judy! The bears go crazy over the smell and taste of this.
We stuffed the watermelon and ginger leaves inside a one-meter long fire hose, and applied some vegemite at the hole of the fire hose.
Done eating, time to rest! But I still want to play
Taska KEMAS Kg. Rancangan Visit
We have so much fun interacting with these young children of Taska KEMAS Kg. Rancangan. They are excited and curious to see the sun bears roaming in the forest enclosure of BSBCC. We hope you guys had a great time here and gained some new knowledge about sun bears. Thank you, and see you guys again!
SK Timbang, Kota Belud Visit
Welcoming the vibrant energy of SK Timbang, Kota Belud. Thank you for visiting us and meeting the world's smallest bear, the sun bear.
A not so tiny Tenom
Tiny Tenom is not so tiny anymore!
Tenom currently weighs 12kg! From a mere 4kgs when first arriving here, she was a shy but playful bear. Today, she is a confident bear who enjoys challenging her keepers when play fighting. She is a great climber with monkey-like skills (We think she was a monkey in a past life) and definitely does not like sharing her food or toys with others (Yes, we get it! You’re a princess Tenom). Tenom is full of energy and as she is growing bigger, her keepers sometimes have a hard time keeping up with her. However, the efforts her keepers give to do so are impeccable!
Lately, we have been trying to introduce various fruits and invertebrates to Tenom and keep it as close to what a wild bear’s diet would be. She is not used to the new taste, smell, or textures but does enjoy rubbing the new foods all over her body! Her favourite solid foods at the moment are any type of invertebrates (i.e. ants, termites, beetles, pillbugs). Her keepers would hide them around her cage and she has a blast foraging for them.
Today we tried giving her a local fruit called Jackfruit. It has a very pungent smell and sweet-tasting flesh. It didn’t take long for Tenom to find the hidden fruit with her keen sense of smell but instead of eating it, she’d roll around in it. Within a couple minutes, she is covered head to toe in sticky Jackfruit juices! Even though she hates sharing her things, she still likes to keep close to her keepers while eating or rather ‘playing’ with her food.
We are getting closer to the day Tenom goes to Tabin Forest Reserve. Our Tabin Sun Bear Research Project team members are working hard to ensure the project runs smoothly and is ready for Tenom’s arrival. Big thanks to our sponsors and supporters – Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for giving us a fighting chance to provide a better life for Tenom.
Tenom when she first arrived with a body full of scabs and only weighing 4kgs! It has been an honour seeing her grow into the beautiful confident girl she is today.
At 12kgs, she is a healthy and active sun bear! Loves to climb, dig, and forage. Soon she will be able to do all that in the forest where she truly belongs.
A different array of fruits and invertebrates for her to try. A delicious buffet to any other resident sun bear at BSBCC but to Tenom a bunch of weird-tasting, smelly things.
This independent girl opens the Jackfruit on her own and sees whether she likes it or not.
Tenom: "Seems like a fun toy!"
Keepers: "Hmm..”