Kukuton Comes To BSBCC

Text by Seng Yen Wah

Today is the first week of 2022 and we received a seven-year-old adult male sun bear named Kukuton from Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. His arrival to BSBCC marks our 66th rescue bear since we started back in 2008.

Kukuton was illegally kept in Kampung Taginambur, Jalan Kota Belud - Ranau in Kota Belud, Sabah. The owner claimed that she was trying to protect him as his previous owner had the intention to sell him off to others but she was too busy managing her family which led to the delay of handing Kukuton over to the authorities. The decision to not immediately inform and hand him over to the authorities after keeping him illegally in a cage for four years; from 2015 to 2019 was against the law and the owner was brought to court. On 19 July 2021, she was found guilty for keeping a Bornean sun bear illegally and the court sentenced her with a fine of RM15,000 or four months in jail which was then settled with the owner paying the fine.

Today, Kukuton is in safe hands at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. He will undergo a one-month quarantine and receive comprehensive care under the Bear Care team. We will do our best and hope that he can leave his past behind, learn the skills of being a wild sun bear and prepare for the day for his return to the forest again.

Just bear in mind that it is illegal to keep a sun bear in captivity in Sabah. According to the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, the sun bear is a ‘Totally Protected’ species. Violation of the law will be punished with a fine of not less than RM50,000 and up to RM250,000 and a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.

Buying wild animals is creating an incentive to capture animals for profit. This usually leads to the killing of the mothers so that the young animals can be captured. When the buying demand stops, the killing will stop too. So, please avoid buying wildlife or any products that derives from wildlife. And if you see any illegal wildlife trade, please report the matter to the authorities immediately for action:

# Jabatan PERHILITAN Semenanjung Malaysia: 1-800-88-5151

# MYCAT Wildlife Crime Hotline: +6019 3564194

# Sarawak Forestry Corporation: +6019 8859996 & +6016 8565564

# Sabah Wildlife Department: 088-254767

For more updates on Kukuton, please continue to follow BSBCC on our social media platforms!