Soo

Rescue Bear No. / 拯救编号 / 拯救編號 : 57

Year of Birth: 2014

MEANING OF NAME:
Name was given to her by her previous owner. Soo was purchased from Sook Keningau market, hence was named Soo.

HISTORY: Soo is an orphaned sun bear. She was bought by someone in Karamatoi village in Sook Keningau market with the price of RM350 with the intention of saving the cub. She was kept as a pet for two years in Nambayan village in Tambunan, that is located in the interior division of Sabah. When she was kept as a pet, she was fed with rice, milk, fruits, cabbage and cucumber. On the 8th of September 2017, she was rescued by the Sabah Wildlife Department and transferred to the BSBCC. Soo is a healthy sun bear and weighs at 25.7kg.
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PERSONALITY: She always stays up high in the den and is very alert to her surroundings. She appreciates every food item that is offered to her and can eat extremely fast. She will give warning signs when she feels unsafe. On the 6th February 2020, Soo and her groupmates (Sika, Kina and BJ) moved to the bear house. After settling down in the bear house, Soo underwent fence training. She was alert in training. Surprisingly, Soo is the first who passed the training among her group. However, she has shown a lack of confidence to step into the forest. Soo needs time to adapt to the new environment. After seven months, Soo began her adventure, roaming freely in the forest. Foraging is her favourite activity. She also likes to spend time enjoying the sun.  We hope she can gain her trust and confidence in the process of rehabilitation at the BSBCC and become a wild bear again.
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Death: Soo was found dead in her forest enclosure on the 2nd of August 2026. She was out there for 2 consecutive nights without returning to get her food, raising suspicion among the keepers. Post mortem report indicated blunt trauma injuries on her ventral thoracic region, possibly from a fall.