From Learning to Caring: My Internship at BSBCC 🐻🤎 Text by Ahmad Zaim Umar (UPM Intern)

Last February, I started my internship at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) as part of my semester course. To be honest, I initially chose BSBCC because a friend suggested it, and I thought a conservation centre would be an interesting place to learn more about wildlife. But the more time I spend here, the more I began to realize the deeper purpose behind it all.

Many people don’t know why saving sun bears matters, and I’ll admit I didn’t fully understand it either at first. But being here, seeing the work that goes into caring for these bears, and learning about the challenges they face really opened my eyes. Conservation isn’t easy, it takes effort from all sides, including the community. The way BSBCC manages both the welfare and conservation of these bears is incredible, and I have so much respect for the team behind it.

During my internship, I got to do so many hands-on tasks such as cleaning bear enclosures, doing fecal checks, inspecting the fences, preparing kilograms of food, administering medication, and setting up daily enrichment activities. Each of these responsibilities serves a critical purpose in maintaining the health and happiness of the bears, and I found myself developing a deep appreciation for the intricate work that goes into their care.

One of my favorite moments was working on my own enrichment project. I created the "Tropic Throne🐻👑🌿", a cozy resting area filled with leaves to mimic a natural forest setting. I gave it to Chin because I knew she loves leaves, especially ginger leaves. Seeing her explore and enjoy it was truly rewarding and reminded me why every small effort in conservation makes a difference.

Beyond the work itself, what made this internship so memorable was the incredible people at BSBCC.  I am deeply grateful to the staff, especially the Bear Care Team, whose passion and dedication were evident in everything they did. They didn’t just teach us the tasks, they shared their knowledge, their experiences, and their love for these bears. The buddy system also helped a lot, making sure that no one ever felt left out. A special shoutout to my buddy, Oliver, who was always there to guide me and make the learning process even more enjoyable.

Looking back, I feel so grateful for this opportunity. This internship wasn’t just about gaining experience but it gave me a new perspective on conservation and the effort it takes to protect wildlife.

Bornean Sun Bear Eye Care 2.0👁🐻

Building on the success of last year’s cataract surgeries on four sun bears, our team recently conducted eye assessments on another seven older bears. The evaluations revealed that most of them showed signs of nuclear sclerosis—an age-related change in the lens—while some were diagnosed with cataracts. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to serious complications, including pain and blindness.

This important work was made possible through our collaboration with Dr. Nadzariah Cheng, a veterinary ophthalmologist from Animed Veterinary Clinic and the ophthalmology team from Hospital Duchess of Kent, Sandakan. We are also deeply grateful to TransAid Solutions (TransAid Solutions Sdn Bhd)  for providing us with an ultrasound machine and patient monitor to support the procedures.

This marks another significant milestone in BSBCC’s ongoing commitment to the healthcare of aging sun bears. We believe in early intervention—because preventing disease is always better than treating it. By addressing cataracts early, we aim to protect the well-being and quality of life of these remarkable animals.

2025-04-13 MOTAC Visit

We were honored to welcome YBhg. Dato' Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for a meaningful work visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), focusing on projects under the Program Pemeliharaan, Pemuliharaan, Ubah Suai dan Naiktaraf (PPUN) (Preservation, Conservation, Modification, and Upgrading Programme).

Also present was Mary Isidore Malangking, Deputy Permanent Secretary I (Tourism and Environment) of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah. Their dedication to preserving and enhancing our cultural and environmental heritage is truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these efforts on the community and future generations.

Learning and Volunteering at BSBCC 🐻 Text by Wafeq Mu’izzadin (UPM Intern)

Greetings,

My name is Wafeq Mu’izzadin, a 3rd year student of Veterinary Medicine from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

I learnt about BSBCC back in May 2023 during my 1st year of Veterinary School where I came to assist my lecturer to conduct research on the Bornean Sun Bear as I’m a local from Kinabatangan which is about 35 miles from Sepilok where the BSBCC are located. From here, I’m eager to learn more about the Bornean Sun Bear including its habitat, behavior, diet, and conservation status and also the importance of conserving them. At that moment, I started to plan my intention to conduct my wildlife internship where I also can volunteer to support the conservation effort for the Bornean Sun Bear later during my 3rd year, and now here I am with my friends that I manage to persuade to join me here.😆

Being a volunteer here for 2 weeks, although we carried out basic tasks such as cleaning the bear house, working in the kitchen preparing foods for the bears, fence checking, preparing the enrichment for the bears and others daily routine, but I do believe every routine here contributes significantly towards the sun bears rehabilitation and also their welfare. Every action here has a meaningful purpose, and the people are very friendly, welcoming, helpful, and funny, which makes the experience even more rewarding.

I learn much more about sun bears in BSBCC. Dr Wong and all of their staff are very kind to share the knowledge and encourage us to ask more questions along with volunteering. Every sharing session here is very fruitful with Dr. Wong, Miss Jacq (Bear care officer) and also Dr. Yeoh (BSBCC Veterinarian).

We also participated in dental checkups and treatments for the sun bears. The team included Dr. Cedric Tutt, Dr. Serena Oh, Dr. Nabila Sarkawi, Dr. Yeoh Boon Nie, and staff from BSBCC and the Sabah Wildlife Department.

During our volunteer work, we were tasked with creating enrichment for the bears. My buddy Izlan and I came up with the idea and built one called 'Dig-the-box' for a bear named Kwong. It was truly heartwarming to see Kwong enjoy the enrichment I created

Overall, volunteering at BSBCC is physically demanding and requires hard work, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. I have gained valuable knowledge about wildlife conservation, particularly the Bornean Sun Bear. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at BSBCC for their warm welcome and for guiding us throughout our volunteering. I hope this experience inspires others to recognize the important role we all play in preserving and protecting our natural resources.

 "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved." - Dr. Jane Goodall

My Intern story🥰 Text by Muhammad Aqil (UPM Intern)

In last February to early March 2025, my seven friends and I, from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), started on a two-week wildlife internship at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah. This was an incredibly exciting opportunity for me, as it was my first time working closely with wildlife, especially the Bornean sun bear. Throughout my time there, I gained abundance of knowledge and hands-on experience. Initially, I wasn’t even aware that there were two subspecies of sun bears, but during my internship, I learned a lot about these cute sun bears and, more importantly, the critical role of the centre in conserving, rehabilitating, and releasing these bears back into the wild. Each rescued bear at the centre had its own unique story, and I was amazed by the dedication of the staff in providing the best care, from the youngest cubs to the oldest resident, Amaco who is 32 years old.

During my internship, I worked closely with the keepers, especially my assigned buddy, Carls. Together, we carried out daily routines such as cleaning cage, preparing food, administering medications, and conducting fence inspections. However, the most fascinating part of my work was creating enrichment activities for the bears. Enrichment is essential for captive animals as it stimulates their senses, enhances cognitive function, and reduces stress and boredom. We designed two types of enrichment: daily enrichment, which involved simple yet effective activities using natural materials like sticks, leaves, dried wood, and fruits, along with small amounts of natural-based ingredients such as spices, organic water spray, and peanut butter; and special enrichment, which was a more complex project tailored for individual bears. Carls and I originally designed an enrichment for Nano, but due to technical reasons, we ended up giving it to Jelita instead. Our goal was to create a comfortable resting space combined with a rolling pipe filled with treats, encouraging the bear to use its claws, tongue, and limbs to manipulate the structure and retrieve the hidden rewards. I sincerely hope Jelita enjoys and benefits from it for a long time.

As my internship came to an end, I felt a deep sense of appreciation for the entire team at BSBCC especially the bear keepers, veterinarian, and staff who welcomed us with kindness, shared their knowledge, and worked alongside us every day. Their passion and dedication to the conservation of Bornean sun bears were truly inspiring. This experience has strengthened my desire to contribute to wildlife conservation especially Bornean sun bear and I hope to return one day to continue supporting these incredible animals. It is my wish that our efforts will help ensure that the Bornean sun bear thrives for generations to come, serving as a symbol of pride for Malaysia.