28/5/2018
Text and Photos by Chiew Lin May
Diana was kept in a concrete floor cage and was displayed to the public at View Top Resort, Tawau, on the South East coast of Sabah, for about ten years. She was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department on the 31st of July 2013, and was then brought to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) on the 10th of March, 2014. Upon arrival, she was in a bad condition with existing open wounds on the right maxillary area and had unhealthy gums due to fighting with another male, adult sun bear as they were both kept together in a cage. We will never know what happened to her mother, but this can illustrate how vulnerable wild sun bears are to threats from poachers. Stolen from life in the forest, Diana will never be taught by her mother how to survive in the wild.
This year we still continue to fight the battle to rescue illegal pet trade victims in Sabah. Due to the dens in our bear houses and quarantine being full, our team has decided to let Diana meet with two lovely young female bears, Sika and Kina, in quarantine.
This year we still continue to fight the battle to rescue illegal pet trade victims in Sabah. Due to the dens in our bear houses and quarantine being full, our team has decided to let Diana meet with two lovely young female bears, Sika and Kina, in quarantine.
They were moved to larger dens to begin integration. On the 13th of April 2018, it was time for Diana to make these new friendships.
Once the door was opened, gorgeous Sika showed more interest towards Diana by pawing and wrestling her in a gentle way.
Kina slowly came to meet Diana and joined in the play fight too – with lots and lots of happy play fighting!
Diana was excited at her first encounter with Sika and Kina.
Diana was excited at her first encounter with Sika and Kina.
Diana is like a grandma to them!
Diana is like a grandma to them!
They seem to get along well, except when there are coconut treats. Kina and Diana do not mess with Sika.
They immediately enjoyed their new dens which were full of natural habitat enrichments such as dead wood, green leaves, climbing structures, a sleeping platform, and a hammock. These enrichment activities are all designed to stimulate natural behaviour and keep them active.
They are happily busy finding treats hidden here and there.
For Diana, though not much of a foodie, she enjoys eating fruit.
Once their tummy is full, it must be time to play!
They spend their days wandering around their large dens, tearing open hessian sacks, digging up termites, rolling, and climbing on the structural enrichment.
They spend their days wandering around their large dens, tearing open hessian sacks, digging up termites, rolling, and climbing on the structural enrichment.
They spend their days wandering around their large dens, tearing open hessian sacks, digging up termites, rolling, and climbing on the structural enrichment.
They spend their days wandering around their large dens, tearing open hessian sacks, digging up termites, rolling, and climbing on the structural enrichment.
They spend their days wandering around their large dens, tearing open hessian sacks, digging up termites, rolling, and climbing on the structural enrichment.
Diana still cannot figure out how Sika and Kina get up to the sleeping platform, but she will just sit and look around the outside where she enjoys the smell of freedom.
Sometimes the three bears will just explore in their own world of fun and mischief.
Sika and Kina are particularly fond of destroying enrichment toys first.
Sika and Kina are particularly fond of destroying enrichment toys first.
They would have learnt the forest skills they need to survive in the wild.
They would have learnt the forest skills they need to survive in the wild.
They all have their own spot for napping.
Diana will choose the basket
Sika’s is in the hammock
Kina takes naps on random platform
They are having a great time together
They are learning how to trust and to ensure they have all that they deserve!
It is a pleasure to see that Diana has grown close to the fun-loving youngsters, Sika and Kina.
Our sun bears are rescued and undergo rehabilitation at our centre. They have suffered some physical disabilities or psychological trauma from their time kept in captivity. Through this integration, life is getting better for these bears that have lived with pain and trauma for so long. For Diana, single enrichment and the company of new friends can make her day.
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