30/9/2017
Today, the BSBCC were glad to welcome group visits from 2 different schools. The first school is SK Mostyn, Kunak which came early in the morning. This time, the students was given presentation about Sun Bear by our Environmental Education Officer, after the presentation they were required to answer sets of questions in the Sun Bear Explorer Book. They obtained the answers from the signboards along the boardwalk. Through this activity, the students were encouraged to make critical thinking and were able to understand better about sun bears and its environment. At the end of the activity, the answers were discussed together. At 11 am nearly afternoon, another group from SK Paris 3, Kinabatangan came to visit our centre. Due to limited time, they didn't do the Sun Bear Explorer activity but instead they were given short briefings and brought for tour at the observation platforms. The BSBCC are very happy to see more young people learning about the Mother Nature. Thank you for visiting our Centre!
Presentation about BSBCC and Sun Bear from Miss Risnayati Lammu our Environmental Education Officer.
Looking for answers from the signboard
Group photo with group from SK Mostyn,Kunak at the end of the visit
Group from SK Paris 3, Kinabatangan
The headmistress from SK Paris 3 taking the opportunity to observe the bear in a tree through the spotting scope
29/9/2017
On the 29th September 2017, BSBCC was invited to SJK (C) Chi Hwa, Sandakan to set up an educational booth during their sports carnival. Besides BSBCC, other organizations and local companies in Sandakan such as WWF, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Artlex Centre, Maybank, and a few more were also invited to participated in this event. During this carnival, all of the students, teachers and parents have the chance to visit all the booths from participating organizations and companies. There were also activities held in each booth such as answering quizzes. All of the students enjoyed in this carnival and we hope that they learned more about sun bears today!
Students performance during the sports carnival
YB Datuk Au Kam Wah, state assemblyman from Elopura Division, visiting our educational booth
Ms. Risnayati receiving certificate of appreciation from SJK (C) Chi Hwa, Sandakan, on behalf of BSBCC
Students visiting booth from participating organization
Looking for answers from the signs for the quiz activity
Looking for answers from the signs for the quiz activity
Students doing some activity at the Rainforest Discovery Centre booth
Beautiful garden around the school
Prize presentation ceremony for the winners during the sports carnival
27/09/2017
Text by Chiew Lin MayPhotos by Seng Yen Wah & Chiew Lin May
The sad part of each rescued orphan sun bear that arrive at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is that they come from having lived through a bitter past. As sun bears grow into fully grown adult, they become dangerous and difficult to handle which will end up their lives in a tiny cage or seeking out sun bear rehabilitation centre to take their sun bear pet in.This is what happens to our recently rescued a three years old sub adult female bear, Soo (Rescued bear No.56). It was so shock when we received a video showing that the person was playing with this bear (who is fully grown bear). She was purchased from Karamatoi village in Sook Keningau market when she was still cub and kept as a pet by a family in Nambayan village in Tambunan, located in the interior Division of Sabah for almost three years. She was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department and she arrives at BSBCC on 8th September 2017. Soo was fed with rice, cucumber and milk. Undoubtedly her mother had been killed; she is sold illegally throughout Borneo and kept in private home. Sadly many of these orphaned sun bears will never fully learn their natural way of life and lose their ability to survive in the wild.
We received a three years old sub adult female sun bear, Soo on 8th September 2017. She was rescued by Sabah Wildlife Department who found kept as illegal pet at by a family in Nambayan village in Tambunan.
After three years kept as pet in a cage, Soo finally have the second chance to learn as a wild bear. She was moved into brand new dens. Great work by the Sabah Wildlife Department team to save another precious life.
During the arrival, Soo shows a sorrow face and traumatized. This made her keep alert. She must have been going through traumatizing experience for her. You can feel how this disgusting the pet trade is! Often these rescued sun bears take a long recovery road from the trauma of losing their mom in such a horrific way. They often suffer from physically health issues, malnutrition and poor treatment during her pet trade time.
During the arrival, Soo shows a sorrow face and traumatized, but who could blame her?
She will take some time to adjusting so well to her new environment.
Luckily for Soo, the Sabah Wildlife Department rescued her and she has been given second chance to survive as a wild bear. She has to go through a quarantine process for 30 days to determine her health status. On 10th September 2017 she received a health check. Dr. Pakeeyaraj Nagalinggam from Wildlife Rescue Unit, Sabah Wildlife Department performed a general health check. These include an assessment of her overall health, function of the internal organs and physical condition and potential sickness. Her weighs was 25.70kg.The blood tests result has shown she is in good health and bright bear.
Dr. Pakee conducted a first medical check up to new arrival bear. This includes x-ray, blood, dental check, fecal parasite check and also physical condition.
Soo with her beautiful yellow crescent chest mark!
At the BSBCC, Soo will receive intensive care. The most important first step is to make sure Soo is settled in this new environment. Till now she still avoids to explore new surroundings. Soo was introducing to new correct diet and enrichment to ensure she is growing healthy. But Soo only will explore the enrichment and treats on night time where the surrounding area was quiet. She will quickly move away after detecting our presence. Soo spent the majority of her time and feel safe by staying high up on cage. She is now an orphan and needs much love and care to grow into a trust and confident beautiful sun bear.
A glimpse of the Soo incredible long tongue!
Soo only will explore the enrichment and treats on night time where the surrounding area was quiet.
Day after day, we tried to encourage her with difference type of enrichment but she preferred stay high up on cage where she feel safe.
We are delighted to welcome Soo to our sun bear family! Soo has a long journey ahead of her in going through rehabilitation until she returns to the wild again. It is illegal to keep sun bears as pets! Please remember the consequences of keeping one as a pet and give them promise of HOPE! We hope to see Soo can be thriving and adapting well to her new home. She has to find the life of a free bear. We will be monitoring to see how she progresses over the coming months at quarantine.
With the right support and care, she sure will slowly build up her confident and trust.
Hope the day come where Soo is thriving and developing her forest skills so that she can return to the rainforest.
26/09/2017
Text by Batrisyia Binti TeepolPhotos by Seng Yen Wah, Chiew Lin May & Batrisyia Binti Teepol
Hi, I'm Batrisyia, I’m 21 years old and I was born and raised in Miri, Sarawak. By the time I'm writing this story, I'm about to enter my final year in Animal Resource Science and Management in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.Applying as an intern in Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is definitely a random process that turns out to be the best 10 weeks of my life. I think I was blessed and lucky enough to be given the opportunity to complete my internship in BSBCC.First off, the centre itself is definitely well planned, from facilities to everyday tasks. Having the forest enclosures for the bears are definitely a bonus for this centre.The run down to my everyday job is mostly animal husbandry which includes cleaning the cages, preparing food, feeding, making enrichments, fence checking, etc. Honestly, the jobs are quite physical but somehow I definitely enjoyed doing them. I think the most memorable time would have to be when we were looking for termite's nest (and made a quick stop getting ourselves wet), random maintenance works, and so much more. Dr. Wong also taught us a lot during our weekly volunteer session and I definitely gained so much input (forever grateful). Here in the centre I was exposed to a lot of new things, from hand sawing to visiting schools for outreach. Basically my communication skills and other soft skills definitely received an upgrade thanks to the opportunities I was given. The best part of my internship was probably the part where I was assigned to observe Nano and Noah for their integration with other bears. I am now even more intrigued in learning about bears (especially the smallest bear species)!
Chee Yoong, Athirah and I at the water cascade (can’t imagine my internship days without these two)
Andy pushing the wheelbarrow filled with us (bundle of joy)
Athirah and I showing our mad skills haha (girl power!)
Alex and I at the bird tower (doggo and pupper)
Athirah and I with Kimberly (all the best for your study kiddo)
With Dr. Wong Siew Te (papa bear :D) and our lecturer, Mr. Badiozaman who visited us in order to evaluate us
Finally Phin’s ramp is now completed (and according to Mizuno’s plan hehe)
The bears, I can’t fathom how lucky I am to be able to learn about them, care for them and basically just being able to look at them. I personally think sun bears are beautiful and I do hope these rescued bears will be able to feel and enjoy the nature of their home, the forest.
Boboi who is one of my favourite bears.
And Kala, my ultimate girl
All of the staffs here especially the ones in Bear Care Team are people that have touched my heart. Their sincerity and passion in helping the sun bears are definitely to be acknowledged. Working in conservation is a hard task but what I saw from working with them for the past 10 weeks was that they are all full of love and joy. Despite working so hard during the day, every day on the way back, everyone will always be full of laughter and happiness.Thank you for all your guidance, help, mentor, kindness, hospitality, jokes, laughter, opportunities, love, and all of your presences. You all are beyond amazing! So much memories were made thus some more pictures to reminisce the time.
Bjorn Hala mates
Will always be my favourite people (and favourite girlsss minus Thye Lim hehe)!
We call the entire back seat (literally)
Azzry is always taking our picture and finally here he is (far right – show me your ninja skills)
Feeding with the funniest guys ever, Jeniur and Nizam (si Rushakk sama jangan lemah2)
Definitely one of the nights to be remembered (bunch of laughter :-D)
One with the heroes (not all heroes wear capes- these guys wear sun bears shirt!)
And my buddy, Mizuno (kau juga lah win!)
Will always be missing this pupper, Miko.
The best 10 weeks of my life were all thanks to these people, you guys are da bomb.
