KeeperDiaries : Firehose enrichment

#KeeperDiaries : Firehose enrichment

Fire hose enrichment is a popular and effective way to provide stimulation and challenge for captive animals, especially for those who like to bite, chew, tug, and manipulate objects. Fire hose is a durable and versatile material that can be cut and shaped into various configurations, such as braids, knots, rings, hammocks, and more. Fire hose enrichment can also be combined with other materials, such as food, scents, or toys, to increase the attractiveness and complexity of the device.

For Kwong, a male sun bear at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), we have prepared a special fire hose enrichment that incorporates some of his favourite things: watermelon, ginger leaves, and vegemite. Watermelon and ginger leaves are nutritious and tasty treats for sun bears, who are omnivorous and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, and insects in the wild. Vegemite is a savoury spread made from yeast extract that has a strong and distinctive flavour that sun bears find irresistible. The vegemite was brought and donated to BSBCC all the way from Australia by Judy (Thank you Judy!)

We stuffed the watermelon and ginger leaves inside a one-meter long fire hose, and applied some vegemite at the hole of the fire hose. This will encourage Kwong to use his powerful jaws, claws, and tongue to access the food inside the hose. Sun bears have the longest tongue among all bear species, which can reach up to 25 cm in length. They use their tongue to extract honey, termites, and other food from tree holes and crevices. By mimicking this natural behaviour, the fire hose enrichment will provide Kwong with physical and mental stimulation, as well as a rewarding and satisfying meal. Kwong absolutely loved this (as you can see in the videos!). It did take him a while to figure out how to reach the food in the middle of the firehose but eventually he learnt that if he stepped on the foods in the middle of the hose, it will be squeezed out like toothpaste. After devouring all the tasty snacks in the middle, he proceeded to play with the hose itself – bringing it all the way up to his resting spot on his log and waving it around like he just don’t care.

Enrichment is a way of providing animals in captivity with stimuli that encourage them to display natural behaviours, such as foraging, exploring, nesting, grooming, and playing. It is great because it can improve their physical and mental health, reduce stress and boredom, and increase their activity and well-being. Therefore, we would like to thank our supporters Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for giving us the ability to provide enrichment for all our bears.

#bsbcc #enrichment #sunbear #conservation

Taska KEMAS Kg. Rancangan (4th Dec 2023)

We have so much fun interacting with these young children of Taska KEMAS Kg. Rancangan. They are excited and curious to see the sun bears roaming in the forest enclosure of BSBCC. We hope you guys had a great time here and gained some new knowledge about sun bears. Thank you, and see you guys again!

Tiny Tenom is not so tiny anymore

Tiny Tenom is not so tiny anymore!🥰

Tenom currently weighs 12kg! From a mere 4kgs when first arriving here, she was a shy but playful bear. Today, she is a confident bear who enjoys challenging her keepers when play fighting. She is a great climber with monkey-like skills (We think she was a monkey in a past life🐵) and definitely does not like sharing her food or toys with others (Yes, we get it! You’re a princess Tenom👸). Tenom is full of energy and as she is growing bigger, her keepers sometimes have a hard time keeping up with her. However, the efforts her keepers give to do so are impeccable!

Lately, we have been trying to introduce various fruits and invertebrates to Tenom and keep it as close to what a wild bear’s diet would be. She is not used to the new taste, smell, or textures but does enjoy rubbing the new foods all over her body! Her favourite solid foods at the moment are any type of invertebrates (i.e. ants, termites, beetles, pillbugs). Her keepers would hide them around her cage and she has a blast foraging for them.

Today we tried giving her a local fruit called Jackfruit. It has a very pungent smell and sweet-tasting flesh. It didn’t take long for Tenom to find the hidden fruit with her keen sense of smell but instead of eating it, she’d roll around in it. Within a couple minutes, she is covered head to toe in sticky Jackfruit juices! Even though she hates sharing her things, she still likes to keep close to her keepers while eating or rather ‘playing’ with her food. 😅

We are getting closer to the day Tenom goes to Tabin Forest Reserve. Our Tabin Sun Bear Research Project team members are working hard to ensure the project runs smoothly and is ready for Tenom’s arrival. Big thanks to our sponsors and supporters – Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for giving us a fighting chance to provide a better life for Tenom.

#sunbear #rehabilitation #bsbcc #conservation

SK Timbang, Kota Belud visit (1st Dec 2023)

Welcoming the vibrant energy of SK Timbang, Kota Belud. Thank you for visiting us and meeting the world's smallest bear, the sun bear.

#bsbcc #bear #sunbear #beruangmadu #beruangmatahari #sepilok #visitsepilok #sandakan #schooltrip #lawatansekolah

SK Bombalai Tawau visit (30th Nov 2023)

Thank you for SK Bombalai Tawau for the visit today! We have so much fun interacting with the students and teachers, we are glad we can spread the word about our efforts to save Sun Bears and raise their awareness about nature and wildlife conservation. We hope they are enjoying exploring the forest and the Sun Bears, and gaining new knowledge.