🐻Bornean Sun Bears: My Immersive Internship in Wildlife Conservation🐻 by Effa Denis (UNIMAS Internship Student 2024)

🐻Bornean Sun Bears: My Immersive Internship in Wildlife Conservation🐻

Text and photos by Effa Denis (UNIMAS Internship Student 2024)

Interning at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) was a transformative experience that ignited my passion for wildlife conservation. 

I worked hands-on with the Bear Care Unit, handling tasks like feeding, medical care, cage cleaning, and faecal checks. Feeding wasn’t just about food, it recreated the bears' natural foraging instincts, while special meals catered to those like Amaco, an older bear. Cage cleaning and deep sanitations ensured a safe, healthy space. 

In the kitchen, I prepared food and cleverly delivered supplements, like hiding them in bananas. I also inspected electric fences to prevent escapes and monitored the bears' health. Beyond daily care, I helped design enrichment activities to keep the bears curious and active. 

With the education team, I raised awareness about sun bear conservation. Sessions with Dr. Wong, BSBCC’s inspiring CEO, further deepened my commitment to ethical animal care. 

None of this would have been possible without the incredible bear care staff. They taught me not only technical skills but also the importance of patience and understanding in animal care. 

This internship was life-changing, and I recommend it to anyone passionate about wildlife. I only wish it had lasted longer.

2024-12-21 Visit of Consulate of the Republic of Korea

On the 21st December 2024, we received a visit from the Consulate of the Republic of Korea Kota Kinabalu. The Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Kota Kinabalu, His Excellency Yoon Ockchae was personally guided by the CEO and Founder of BSBCC, Dr. Wong Siew Te. Both of them had good exchanges of information and sharing on the sun bear conservation, rainforest of Borneo and how human actions affected the wildlife and the rainforest and we hope we could have more people to know about our treasure in Sabah.

✨Intern Adventure ✨ by Natalie (UNIMAS Internship Student 2024)

✨Intern Adventure ✨

Text by Natalie (UNIMAS Internship Student 2024)

My internship experience at BSBCC was extremely fun and insightful. I got to meet the bears in the bear house and learned a lot about them. I ended up having a favourite bear: Mary 💜, but all of the bears were very lovable.

The staffs were also very friendly and helpful, they taught me a lot during my internship and made my short time in BSBCC very enjoyable and accommodating.

I had a blast working together on the enrichment for the bears with my work buddy: Effendy, my friend who interned with me: Effa and volunteers who came during my internship. We had the chance to experience some adventure in the forest while finding enrichment and visited a peaceful waterfall.

It was a very nice experience and I hope to be able to visit BSBCC again ✨

2024-12-15 UMS Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy

Yesterday, we received a visit from students from Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The students are from the tourism and hospitality courses; the visit was a good opportunity to showcase the importance of conservation and tourism and how both of them are empowering each others. Once again, thanks UMS for having us in your visit list!

2024-12-14 Visit From Tadika KEMAS Ladang Tabung Haji

Embarking on adventures, learning new things, and having fun along the way. 🌿🧭 Thank you to Tabika Kemas Ladang Tabung Haji for visiting us! We hope all of the students had fun here and gain new knowledge about the sun bear and other wildlife animals.