Text and Photos by Chiew Lin May
Kala is an 8 month old female sun bear cub who was rescued by the Sabah Wildlife Department on January 2015. At the time of her rescue, Kala showed signs of being emaciated, dehydrated and malnourished.
Thanks to the Sabah Wildlife Department, Kala was saved and brought to a new home at BSBCC. Six months later, she has progressed well and developed new skills during her rehabilitation. Kala’s appetite has come roaring back as well. Her balanced diet consists of a combination of dog milk replacer, fruits, vegetables and porridge. She now weighs 15.95 kg. She is growing bigger and stronger. Kala has a full set of adult teeth. “Sun bear cubs have a period where they grow very fast, typically when they are 5 to 10 months where they can gain 3 to 4 kg each month” – Wong Siew Te
Chart below shows the growth curve of Kala cub (Updated 17th July 2015). Showing she is healthy and keeps growing gracefully!
The sun bear cub will be offered different types of enrichment to stimulate and prepare her for life back in the wild. Inside Kala’s den, we provide enrichment such as Kong, Aussie Dog Ball, natural habitat enrichment (logs, dead wood, branches, dry leaves, fresh plant and etc.) and manipulation based treats. She’s making full use of the structural enrichments in the den. The big basket with the hammock is her favourite!
On February 26th, 2015 Kala caught her first glimpse of the world outside the forest. She has been exploring every patch of the forest and she is already picking out some favourite spots. Sun bears are opportunistic omnivores. Kala enjoys searching for termites, earthworms, beetle larvae and eating soil. Sun bear’s jaws provide a powerful bite and tear force. Kala will use her teeth to tear into trees to get insects beneath the bark. She is a pro at all speeds and directions of sun bear locomotion! She explores by herself and loves to run or roll about on the forest floor.
Sun bears are very adapt climbers, and cubs especially spend time climbing trees. She shows tremendous improvement in climbing skills, using her well-muscled little body with sharp claws that help her to grip trees during climbing. She can be cheeky when climbing trees. She will try to show us how great it is – a true home for her! Little Kala explores the tree canopy, and then finds a comfy liana or log to rest. Though all the challenges with skills, she keeps up her adventurous and playful behavior.
Here are the photos show Kala in different age and grow. Let look what Kala doing and spending at rainforest.
– 3 months old – (First arrival at BSBCC)
Kala, is the youngest female cub. She was bought by someone in Kalabakan-Sapulut road nearby Maliau Basin with the intention of saving the cub then to be surrended to the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit.
Kala was emaciated, dehydrated and malnourished and requires round-the-clock care to help her recovery.
– 4 months old –
We began regularly taking Kala out for walks in the forest on February 26th, 2015.
Kala really loves the nature walks at forest!
– 5 months old –
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
She loves to foraging for wild food in the forest
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
Kala’s left hind paw
– 6 months old –
Inquisitive nature!
Kala use her sharp canines for tearing trees to get at insects.
Kala use her sharp canines for tearing trees to get at insects.
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
Grooming
Sunbath under the sun
She start learning how to climb trees!
Never hesitate to climb till top of the tree canopy!
Her bare soles and long sharp claws make her excellent tree climbers.
– 7 months old –
Kala’s hair grows short black and healthy, making her look very pretty indeed!
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
Cheeky by the day
More high trees to climb and a chance to behave like the wild bear that she is
Beautiful and adventurous Kala is developing well !
Kala also spends more time exploring the forest
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
Showing her little long tongue
– 8 months old –
Alert with surrounding smell and sound!
More high trees to climb and a chance to behave like the wild bear that she is
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
Kalar’s claw mark on the tree
More high trees to climb and a chance to behave like the wild bear that she is
More high trees to climb and a chance to behave like the wild bear that she is
She enjoys the soil that she gets at the forest
Search for termites time!
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
She loves spend every moment digging, puliing, tearing at everything in her path
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
Peek- a- boo!
When Kala is tired from exploring the forest, she will usually find a favorite place to rest or sleep
Kala definitely has a lot to learn to build her forest skills, confidence and independence.
As a sun bear cub Kala is learning the skills and strength she needs to survive in the wild. Her forest skills continue to improve. Sun bears are magnificent and beautiful creatures in their natural habitat but because of habitat destruction, pet trade and poaching they have been led to decline by at least 30 per cent in the last three decades, they need our help! Please show your support and help the smallest bear species by adopting Kala and her friends! Your support enables us to care for these orphaned sun bears.
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