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 Iโve got a little story to share!
Let me just checking whatโs happening around me! This is how I check things out and stay alert โ with a little huff here and there! I might look like Iโm sulking, but I promise Iโm not. Thatโs just my sun bear way of communicating!
When youโre busy destroying things but remember youโre 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 youโre 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 Sandokanโs 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 isnโt 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 Sandokanโs paw strikes again!
I donโt mean to brag, but I think Iโm 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, hereโs a closer look at my handsome little face. Have a bear-y good day!
