Walking Tenom through the forest for the very first time

Today is the day our team has all been looking forward to! After countless tiring nights, meticulous planning, and unwavering effort, we have finally arrived at this pivotal moment: walking Tenom through the forest for the very first time.

Tenom, now approximately 11 months old, has grown into a feisty and independent sun bear since her arrival. From the outset, she has shown a strong preference for forest foods, particularly termites and other insects. Her love for climbing knows no bounds, and she spends a significant portion of her time exploring the heights of her night den independently.

Earlier this month, Tenom was transferred to the Tabin Sun Bear Project base camp, where she became the candidate for a soft release project that has been in development for quite some time. After several weeks of careful observation, she has acclimated to her new surroundings. And today, her dedicated caretakers took her out to explore the surrounding forest—an event that filled the team with both excitement and apprehension.

Given Tenom’s curious nature and previous trial walks at BSBCC, we knew she wouldn’t respond to her name being called like some of the other cubs we’ve worked with. Our concern was that she might venture deep into the forest reserve, never to be seen again.

But we are thrilled to share with all our supporters that the first exploration session with Tenom was a resounding success! As soon as she stepped out, she immediately explored the area, wasting no time in scaling the nearest tree. With her caretakers watching closely, she climbed every available tree and even stumbled upon a log teeming with termites on her own—a delightful find for a sun bear! Remarkably, she fearlessly attempted to conquer a tree twice her size.

During the observation period, her caretakers allowed her some space to exhibit her behavior. To our delight, even in her excitement, Tenom would occasionally glance back at them, ensuring she stayed within a reasonable distance. This behavior reaffirmed the strong bond she has formed with the team.

As the day drew to a close, Tenom returned to her night den following her caretakers, leaving us with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Our little sun bear is indeed “born to be wild,” and we eagerly await more adventures as she continues her journey in the forest.

Moving forward, our plan is to continue bringing her out so she becomes accustomed to the forest environment around her. Eventually, we’ll take her further to explore and develop the survival skills necessary for life in the forest reserve. Our goal is to ensure she becomes confident and independent. This is just the beginning of Tenom’s journey, and we are fully committed to the success of this project.

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our supporters for giving us the opportunity to dedicate our best efforts to rehabilitating our sweet baby Tenom:

Yayasan Hasanah

Kementerian Kewangan

Yayasan Sime Darby

Bask Bear Coffee

Planet Wild