SK Pitas, Sandakan Visit
Yesterday, we welcomed students and teachers from SK Pitas, Sandakan, to BSBCC. They learned about sun bears through a briefing and educational activities while observing the bears from our platforms.
Thank you for visiting and learning about sun bear conservation with us!
Tabika Perpaduan Taman Nuri Visit
Thank you, Tabika Perpaduan Taman Nuri, for visiting us! We hope the children and parents enjoyed exploring nature and learning about our rescued sun bears and sun bear conservation!
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐮
Meet Lumaku, our 73rd rescued sun bear! When he first arrived at BSBCC, he weighed just 15 kg. Now, at 1 year and 7 months old, he has grown to 26 kg!
Lumaku is a friendly sun bear who often approaches people to seek their attention. Before coming to BSBCC, he was kept at a public attraction in Kota Marudu, where a sun bear cub was reportedly displayed for public viewing. His tendency to approach people may be linked to his previous experience in captivity.
After almost six months of rehabilitation, Lumaku has learned and explored so much. He enjoys investigating the enrichment provided by his keepers, from breaking apart logs and firehose enrichment to digging into termite mounds. These activities encourage natural behaviours while providing physical exercise and mental stimulation to Lumaku.
One of his absolute favourites is an Aussie dog ball! Lumaku can spend ages tossing his ball around, and the sound of it hitting the ground can be heard from quite a distance. Sometimes, the thumping is so loud that we might think an earthquake is happening. But don't worry, it's just Lumaku having the time of his life with his favourite toy!
Lumaku also has a healthy appetite, making food a useful reward during his newly introduced Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) sessions. Although he can get a little eager when treats are involved, he remains calm and cooperates well with his keepers.
As Lumaku will continue his rehabilitation at the centre, PRT is an important part of preparing him for routine health checks and veterinary procedures. Through patience and positive reinforcement, we hope to help him become more comfortable with these procedures, minimising stress while allowing our team to monitor his health and well-being as he grows.
Lumaku has also begun getting to know Sandokan through body-contact integration sessions. Both bears have engaged well during their interactions so far. We will continue introducing them through supervised sessions to give them more opportunities to interact, while carefully monitoring their behaviour and comfort levels. Who knows? With time and successful introductions, these two might become good companions!
Lumaku still has a long rehabilitation journey ahead. We look forward to seeing him continue learning, growing and developing the skills he needs for his future.
Do I look handsome? Of course I do!
Are you ready? Because I’ve got a little story to share!
Let me just checking what’s happening around me! This is how I check things out and stay alert — with a little huff here and there! I might look like I’m sulking, but I promise I’m not. That’s just my sun bear way of communicating!
When you’re busy destroying things but remember you’re famous. Gotta pause for a little look and pose for the camera, of course!
PRT session: 50% training, 50% keeping an eye on Sandokan. When you’re trying to earn treats, but your friend has other plans.
We caught this moment just before Sandokan was moved away to give Lumaku some space to focus on his session. Despite being distracted by Sandokan’s little paw beside him, Lumaku remained calm and stayed seated throughout the session. A great step forward in his PRT journey!
A gentle reminder: Sun bears may look cute, but they are wild animals, not pets. Keeping sun bears as pets is strictly prohibited. At BSBCC, our aim is to rescue and rehabilitate sun bears and, whenever possible, return them to the wild, where they belong!
Even the toughest fire hose isn’t a match for Lumaku! He always finds a way to put it to the test. With that determination, we think Lumaku is well on his way to becoming one tough male sun bear!
Quick! Finish the cake before Sandokan’s paw strikes again!
I don’t mean to brag, but I think I’m the termite mound expert around here. Dear Sandokan, please observe carefully. There will be a practical test later
A little blep from Lumaku.
And to wrap things up, here’s a closer look at my handsome little face. Have a bear-y good day!
Rasa Ria Winged Wonders at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu
On 17 and 18 October 2026, BSBCC participated in Rasa Ria Winged Wonders, an event organised by Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu.
The event featured educational sessions for in-house guests to raise awareness about wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting natural habitats. Hands-on educational activities were also organised for invited school students, providing them with engaging and interactive learning experiences to deepen their understanding of wildlife and environmental conservation.
BSBCC’s participation provided an opportunity to support the event’s educational objectives and engage with the public in promoting greater appreciation for wildlife and biodiversity.
BSBCC would like to extend its appreciation to Shangri-La Rasa Ria for organising this meaningful event and providing a platform to promote environmental awareness and education.
𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩!
Sandokan, our Rescue No. 74, is now 13 months old!
When she first arrived at BSBCC, Sandokan weighed 6.5 kg and was slightly underweight. She was also missing a claw on her right front limb. Since then, with time, care and close observation, she has more than doubled her initial body weight. We are also happy to see that her missing claw has grown back well and is now developing healthily.
Sandokan also went through a minor dental procedure after an injury fractured one of her lower deciduous canine teeth. The affected tooth was removed, and thankfully, she recovered very well. She was very cooperative throughout her recovery, and her permanent tooth has since fully erupted. These days, she is happily back to munching on her carrots.
After previously spending time with Manja, Sandokan now has a new companion, Lumaku, Rescue No. 73. We started their introduction gradually through cage-by-cage integration, and Sandokan has been showing a lot of interest in him.
She often looks for Lumaku’s attention and will even bring her enrichment along to show him. It has been lovely to watch these little interactions as they get to know each other.
Sandokan has also been learning how to tackle something a little more challenging — coconuts!
At first, we helped her open a small part of the husk, and she took it from there, working to remove the rest herself. She was able to use her claw to make an opening and enjoy the coconut water, but the coconut meat was a different challenge. The next morning, we found the coconut still mostly intact. She only managed to get to the meat after we cracked it open for her.
But then, last month, we noticed something interesting.
Before the morning routine had even started, we found a coconut in her enclosure already split in half. It seems Sandokan may have been working on it during the night after we left her. We may never know exactly how she managed to do it, but it was certainly a nice surprise to see.
From the little bear who first arrived at BSBCC to the growing bear she is today, Sandokan has come a long way. She is growing stronger, learning new things and showing more of her personality every day. We look forward to seeing what she discovers next.
Look at me in my box! I really like it in here, so I brought my food along and settled down for a little meal inside my favourite spot.
Look at my claw! My missing claw has grown back nicely. I’m a little sleepy here, but still wanted to look at the camera!
Why sit up when I can eat comfortably like this? Sandokan seems to enjoy having her meals while lying down — sometimes on her side, sometimes just finding whatever position feels most comfortable.
Getting bigger and stronger day by day! One thing that makes me especially happy is being able to use all my claws again. I can use them to dig, climb, explore, and even hold on to my food. It feels good to have all my claws back and to be able to use them for all the things I love doing!
One paw holding onto the tree, the other holding my food. Look at me multitasking! I’m not letting go of my food, but I need to hold on tight too.
I’ll take my papaya and bring it far away from the front, where my keeper can’t see it too easily. I just want to enjoy my treat in peace — and most importantly, make sure nobody steals it! My papaya, my spot, my rules.
I’m almost as tall as this tree trunk! Hehehe… I’ve already done some digging and scratching on it, so it doesn’t really look like a tree trunk anymore!
This is my first time trying rambutan! Guess what? I think I’ve just found my new favourite seasonal treat!
When I’m happy, I like to play while I eat! Sometimes I just can’t sit still when there’s good food around. I’ll have a little play, move around, and then come back to my food again. Why choose between playtime and mealtime when I can enjoy both at the same time? A little eating, a little playing, and back to eating again! That’s just how I like my mealtimes — fun, playful and always with something yummy to munch on!
Oops! The camera caught me falling! I was just happily playing around when… down I went! Don’t worry, I’m okay — just a little caught off guard by the camera.
Thank you, BEST Society, for continuing to be part of Bintang’s journey.
A big thank you to BEST Society for their continued support and for renewing their yearly adoption of Bintang under our My Bear Adoption Programme!
Their ongoing commitment means so much to us and helps provide Bintang and our other rescued sun bears with the food, care, enrichment, and support they need each day.
Thank you, BEST Society, for continuing to be part of Bintang’s journey and supporting sun bear conservation.
Tabika Perpaduan Taman Airport (A) visit
Thank you to Tabika Perpaduan Taman Airport (A) for visiting us! We hope the children had a fun and meaningful learning experience today as they explored and observed the animals around them, including our rescued sun bears at the observation platform.
We are happy to have you with us and hope you enjoyed discovering more about wildlife and sun bear conservation!
Environmental Education Outreach Programme for the Tawau Forestry Region
From 30 September to 1 October 2026, we were invited by the Sabah Forestry Department to join the Environmental Education Outreach Programme for the Tawau Forestry Region, organised by the Tawau District Forestry Office. There were lots of fun activities, including wildlife talks, quizzes and interactive activities. We were also happy to meet many students who came to visit and learn about wildlife and nature. Thank you for having us!
Rest peacefully, Bermuda. You will be deeply missed
With deep sadness, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) announces the passing of Bermuda, a 26-year-old male sun bear who had been part of the BSBCC family for 24 years. He was found deceased on 6 September 2026, following severe complications affecting his lungs that caused significant difficulty breathing.
Bermuda was rescued from Kg. Pasir Putih, Keningau, in October 2002 as a sub-adult after being kept illegally as a pet. As Rescue No. 4, he was one of the earliest residents of BSBCC and became a familiar presence to the staff and volunteers who cared for him over the years.
Bermuda was a strong and dominant male with a personality that was impossible to miss. He was focused, alert and always aware of his surroundings. Although he could be aggressive towards other male bears, he also had a playful side and enjoyed his favourite treats and activities, especially the enrichment provided by our keepers and volunteers.
One of the most memorable chapters of Bermuda’s life at BSBCC was when he finally stepped into the forest after spending years in the bear house. Gradually, he became familiar with his surroundings and began exploring, climbing and foraging, expressing more of the natural behaviours of a sun bear.
After 24 years at BSBCC, Bermuda leaves behind a lasting part of the Centre’s history and many memories for those who had the privilege of knowing him.
We are grateful that he was given the opportunity to spend his later years in an environment where he could explore the forest, follow his instincts and simply be a sun bear.
Bermuda will be remembered for his strength, unmistakable personality and the many small moments that made him uniquely himself.
Thank you, Bermuda, for the 24 years you shared with us. Your story will remain part of ours.
Rest peacefully, Bermuda. You will be deeply missed.
Remembering Bermuda. 24 years of memories, one unforgettable bear.
Bermuda also had his own little quirk — he was often seen with his tongue sticking out, even when he was wide awake and alert. It was such a familiar sight that it became one of the little things people remembered most about him.
After enjoying his lunch, Bermuda would often head straight to his favourite spot — his basket — for a well-deserved afternoon nap. It was one of his simple little routines that those who cared for him came to know so well.
Volunteers often had to think a little harder when coming up with enrichment for Bermuda, because many puzzles seemed far too easy for him. With his incredible strength, he could make quick work of wooden enrichment and tear pieces apart with his powerful limbs. It was always a reminder of just how strong he was.
But in the forest, Bermuda was different. He took his time, exploring at his own pace and spending long periods simply being on his own. There was something special about seeing him in that space — free to follow his instincts and be a bear in his own way.
It was special to see him have that space to explore and be himself.
Thank you, Bermuda, for being part of our lives and BSBCC family for 24 years. Your memory will stay with us.