Volunteer Story : My Volunteering Experience at BSBCC

My Volunteering Experience at BSBCC

Text by Chan Wei Jun

My name is Chan Wei Jun, a student currently awaiting my results. I have always loved wildlife and nature, and by chance, I had the opportunity to attend a speech by Dr. Wong Siew Te at my high school. During his talk about sun bears, the word 'DEDICATION' truly inspired me. It motivated me to embark on this incredible volunteering journey, and I was thrilled to be part of it.

I had an amazing time at BSBCC. Though my volunteering period was short, it significantly broadened my horizons to see how a wildlife conservation work. I gained valuable knowledge about sun bears, thanks to the staff who were always willing to share their insights, especially my buddy, Izlan. I witnessed the passion and dedication of every staff member. Even though the job was physically demanding, everyone gave their best to protect the sun bears. Their unwavering commitment was truly inspiring. I deeply admire the people at BSBCC and have immense respect for all the bear keepers and staff. Their work is genuinely impressive.

One of the most unforgettable moments for me was the opportunity to observe a health check, thanks to BSBCC's veterinarian. The experience reaffirmed my aspiration to become a veterinarian. During my time as a volunteer, I was also given the task of creating enrichment activities for the bears. Together with Izlan, we designed and built an enrichment structure called 'Along’s Rescue Plan' for a bear named Along. Along was the first bear I remembered, a bear known for his sudden shifts in behaviour and intense personality. It was heartbreaking to see how easily Along became stressed, and often showing signs of stereotypical behaviour. In captive animals, especially those with a traumatic past, this kind of repetitive, abnormal behaviour is a common sign of psychological distress. Knowing this, I felt the urge to do something meaningful, to create enrichment that could help keep his mind engaged and reduce his stress level.

I carefully designed the interior with leaves and natural elements to resemble the forest environment as closely as possible. This setup helps stimulate Along’s senses and encourages natural behaviours like foraging and climbing, even when he’s inside the bear house. Since the bears take turns using the outdoor enclosure, there are times when Along must remain inside. Enrichment like this is important to keep him mentally and physically active during those periods. Watching him interact with our handmade enrichment was such a rewarding moment. I hope future volunteers will continue building new enrichments for him, so he always has something meaningful to interact with.

One of my biggest personal achievements during this experience was stepping out of my comfort zone and overcoming my fears. I used to be afraid of insects and leeches, but after encountering them firsthand, I realized they weren’t as frightening as I had imagined. I also gained many new skills, including cutting techniques, basic survival skills, and how to use various tools and machines.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at BSBCC for their warm welcome and unwavering guidance throughout my volunteering journey. Their kindness and dedication made this experience truly meaningful. I hope my journey inspires others to recognize the vital role we all play in conserving and protecting our natural world.

This has been an extraordinary and transformative experience!

One that I will treasure for a lifetime.