9/30/17

Meet Soo – Find a Life of a Free Bear

27/09/2017

Text by Chiew Lin May
Photos by Seng Yen Wah & Chiew Lin May

The sad part of each rescued orphan sun bear that arrive at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is that they come from having lived through a bitter past. As sun bears grow into fully grown adult, they become dangerous and difficult to handle which will end up their lives in a tiny cage or seeking out sun bear rehabilitation centre to take their sun bear pet in.

​This is what happens to our recently rescued a three years old sub adult female bear, Soo (Rescued bear No.56). It was so shock when we received a video showing that the person was playing with this bear (who is fully grown bear). She was purchased from Karamatoi village in Sook Keningau market when she was still cub and kept as a pet by a family in Nambayan village in Tambunan, located in the interior Division of Sabah for almost three years. She was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department and she arrives at BSBCC on 8th September 2017. Soo was fed with rice, cucumber and milk. Undoubtedly her mother had been killed; she is sold illegally throughout Borneo and kept in private home. Sadly many of these orphaned sun bears will never fully learn their natural way of life and lose their ability to survive in the wild. 

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We received a three years old sub adult female sun bear, Soo on 8th September 2017. She was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department who found kept as illegal pet at by a family in Nambayan village in Tambunan.

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After three years kept as pet in a cage, Soo finally have the second chance to learn as a wild bear. She was moved into brand new dens. Great work by the Sabah Wildlife Department team to save another precious life.

During the arrival, Soo shows a sorrow face and traumatized. This made her keep alert. She must have been going through traumatizing experience for her. You can feel how this disgusting the pet trade is! Often these rescued sun bears take a long recovery road from the trauma of losing their mom in such a horrific way. They often suffer from physically health issues, malnutrition and poor treatment during her pet trade time.

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During the arrival, Soo shows a sorrow face and traumatized, but who could blame her?

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She will take some time to adjusting so well to her new environment.

​Luckily for Soo, the Sabah Wildlife Department rescued her and she has been given second chance to survive as a wild bear. She has to go through a quarantine process for 30 days to determine her health status. On 10th September 2017 she received a health check. Dr. Pakeeyaraj Nagalinggam from Wildlife Rescue Unit, Sabah Wildlife Department performed a general health check. These include an assessment of her overall health, function of the internal organs and physical condition and potential sickness. Her weighs was 25.70kg.The blood tests result has shown she is in good health and bright bear.

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Dr. Pakee conducted a first medical check up to new arrival bear. This includes x-ray, blood, dental check, fecal parasite check and also physical condition.

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Soo with her beautiful yellow crescent chest mark!

​At the BSBCC, Soo will receive intensive care. The most important first step is to make sure Soo is settled in this new environment. Till now she still avoids to explore new surroundings. Soo was introducing to new correct diet and enrichment to ensure she is growing healthy. But Soo only will explore the enrichment and treats on night time where the surrounding area was quiet. She will quickly move away after detecting our presence. Soo spent the majority of her time and feel safe by staying high up on cage. She is now an orphan and needs much love and care to grow into a trust and confident beautiful sun bear.

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A glimpse of the Soo incredible long tongue!

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Soo only will explore the enrichment and treats on night time where the surrounding area was quiet.

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Day after day, we tried to encourage her with difference type of enrichment but she preferred stay high up on cage where she feel safe.

We are delighted to welcome Soo to our sun bear family! Soo has a long journey ahead of her in going through rehabilitation until she returns to the wild again. It is illegal to keep sun bears as pets! Please remember the consequences of keeping one as a pet and give them promise of HOPE! We hope to see Soo can be thriving and adapting well to her new home. She has to find the life of a free bear. We will be monitoring to see how she progresses over the coming months at quarantine.

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With the right support and care, she sure will slowly build up her confident and trust.

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Hope the day come where Soo is thriving and developing her forest skills so that she can return to the rainforest.

No Dream is Too Big and No Dreamer is Too Small

26/09/2017

Text by Batrisyia Binti Teepol
Photos by Seng Yen Wah, Chiew Lin May & Batrisyia Binti Teepol

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Hi, I'm Batrisyia, I’m 21 years old and I was born and raised in Miri, Sarawak. By the time I'm writing this story, I'm about to enter my final year in Animal Resource Science and Management in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Applying as an intern in Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is definitely a random process that turns out to be the best 10 weeks of my life. I think I was blessed and lucky enough to be given the opportunity to complete my internship in BSBCC.

First off, the centre itself is definitely well planned, from facilities to everyday tasks. Having the forest enclosures for the bears are definitely a bonus for this centre.

The run down to my everyday job is mostly animal husbandry which includes cleaning the cages, preparing food, feeding, making enrichments, fence checking, etc. Honestly, the jobs are quite physical but somehow I definitely enjoyed doing them. I think the most memorable time would have to be when we were looking for termite's nest (and made a quick stop getting ourselves wet), random maintenance works, and so much more. Dr. Wong also taught us a lot during our weekly volunteer session and I definitely gained so much input (forever grateful). Here in the centre I was exposed to a lot of new things, from hand sawing to visiting schools for outreach. Basically my communication skills and other soft skills definitely received an upgrade thanks to the opportunities I was given. The best part of my internship was probably the part where I was assigned to observe Nano and Noah for their integration with other bears. I am now even more intrigued in learning about bears (especially the smallest bear species)! 

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Chee Yoong, Athirah and I at the water cascade (can’t imagine my internship days without these two)

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Andy pushing the wheelbarrow filled with us (bundle of joy)

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Athirah and I showing our mad skills haha (girl power!)

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Alex and I at the bird tower (doggo and pupper)

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Athirah and I with Kimberly  (all the best for your study kiddo)

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With Dr. Wong Siew Te (papa bear :D) and our lecturer, Mr. Badiozaman who visited us in order to evaluate us

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Finally Phin’s ramp is now completed (and according to Mizuno’s plan hehe)

​The bears, I can’t fathom how lucky I am to be able to learn about them, care for them and basically just being able to look at them. I personally think sun bears are beautiful and I do hope these rescued bears will be able to feel and enjoy the nature of their home, the forest.

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Boboi who is one of my favourite bears.

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And Kala, my ultimate girl 

All of the staffs here especially the ones in Bear Care Team are people that have touched my heart. Their sincerity and passion in helping the sun bears are definitely to be acknowledged. Working in conservation is a hard task but what I saw from working with them for the past 10 weeks was that they are all full of love and joy. Despite working so hard during the day, every day on the way back, everyone will always be full of laughter and happiness.

Thank you for all your guidance, help, mentor, kindness, hospitality, jokes, laughter, opportunities, love, and all of your presences. You all are beyond amazing! So much memories were made thus some more pictures to reminisce the time.

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Bjorn Hala mates 

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Will always be my favourite people (and favourite girlsss minus Thye Lim hehe)!

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We call the entire back seat (literally)

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Azzry is always taking our picture and finally here he is (far right – show me your ninja skills)

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Feeding with the funniest guys ever, Jeniur and Nizam (si Rushakk sama jangan lemah2)

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Definitely one of the nights to be remembered (bunch of laughter :-D)

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One with the heroes (not all heroes wear capes- these guys wear sun bears shirt!)

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And my buddy, Mizuno (kau juga lah win!)

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Will always be missing this pupper, Miko.

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The best 10 weeks of my life were all thanks to these people, you guys are da bomb.

UNDP Resident Representative Visit

24/09/2017

Today, 24th September 2017, we were very honored to welcome a visit from Mr. Stefan Priesner, the UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam. He was accompanied by Ms Gan Pek Chuan, Programme Manager for UNDP Malaysia. They were brought for a tour around our Centre, observing the sun bears in the forest enclosure. Thank you very much for spending the time to visit BSBCC and we hope that they enjoyed to see the bears and on the same time learning about our efforts in sun bears conservation.

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Sun bears observation at the platform

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Mr. Stefan taking the opportunity to observe the bear in a tree through the spotting scope

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Our staf helping Mr. Stefan to take photos through the spotting scope.

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Presenting token of apprecation to Mr. Stefan Priesner, th UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam

Visit - SK Sungai Tiram, Sandakan

21/09/2017

A school group from SK Sungai Tiram, Sandakan visited BSBCC on the 21st September 2017. During their visit, we assigned the students to answer a set of questions about sun bears in the Sun Bear Explorer Book and on the the same time they enjoyed to watch the sun bears activities in the forest enclosure. Through this activity, they were able to learn and understand better about sun bears! Thank you for visiting our Centre!

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Students of SK Sungai Tiram, Sandakan

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Bellinda, one of BSBCC staff giving short briefing to the students before the activity starts

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Answering the questions in the book

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The student reading the Sun Bear Profile Book at the observation platform

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Group discussion

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Group photo

A visit by the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister Office

21/09/2017

BSBCC was honored to welcome the visit of the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister Office, YB Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, his wife YBhg. Datin Lenny Musa and delegates to the Centre. We hope everyone had a wonderful time observing the sun bears in the forest enclosure and learning about BSBCC's efforts in sun bear conservation in Sabah. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank YBhg. Datin Lenny Musa for adopting Kudat, one of the adult male sun bears at the Centre.

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Taking a group photo at the BSBCC AV room

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Observing sun bears in the forest enclosure from the observation platform

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YB Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and Mr. Hj. Fadzil (District Forestry Officer of Sandakan) reading the signs at the observation platform.

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YBhg. Datin Lenny Musa adopting our sun bear, Kudat.

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Group photo at the end of the visit