Bornean Sun Bear Conservation

Category: BSBCC, Fund raising, Siew Te Wong, conservation | Date: Feb 16 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

In my past three blog about ZACC, I posted a wall of logos on the generous donors and kind funding agencies who funded my works on sun bears over the last 10 years. I would like you to pay a little attention to a logo located at right center:

This logo belongs to Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara (Bukit Damansara National Primary  School) in Kuala Lumpur.   http://www.skbd.edu.my/news.php. They are very special to me and sun bear. I would like recognize them because they are the only Malaysian source of funding I received from 1998- 2007. In 2005, the school raised RM1000 (about US$285) from primary school students for my doctorate study on sun bear in Sabah. Although the amount is not great compare to my other funds, I was and am very touched by their good acts and I still think this was the greatest fund I ever received because the fund come from my own country-Malaysia, and come from the future elites and leaders of the country. I see hope.

The good acts from Bukit Damansara National School for sun bear did not stopped in 2005. It moves on. In 2008, under the leadership of Md. Sook Pinn Chean and her team at the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Bukit Damansara National School launched “Save Our Sun Bear” campaign to raise awareness for sun bear conservation in the school and the community. From May to December 2008, the school has a series of activities to SAVE OUR SUN BEARS:

“Sun Bear Man” Visit (May)

The campaign got a good kick-start with my presentation the plight and conservation of sun bear. This was my first talk to such a young audience, mainly 8-12 year old with few parents and teachers from the school. Although the topic sound serious, I tried to make it as fun and exciting as possible. At the end of my talk, I asked, “How many of you want to be a wildlife expert like me?” Everyone in the audience raised their hand!

I see hope and bring future for wildlife.

Interclass Competition  (July)

Ten classes took part (Years 4 and 5) in putting up an impressive display of information on Sun Bears in the “Endangered Species Gallery”.  Judges from the Malaysian Nature Society (M.N.S.) were invited to judge the competition.  The winners received certificates from M.N.S. and were treated to a day trip to Deerland in Lanchang, Pahang where the students had the opportunity to interact with a family of three sun bears.

Lower Primary Participation  (July)

The lower primary classes also contributed a lot of information and artwork on sun bears for the gallery display.  For example, Year 1 – teddy bear collages, Year 2 – bear origami and Year 3 – bear poems.

“Fun Friday Night” School Fair  (August)

SKBD T-shirts also bearing the logo of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and other bear merchandise such as key chains, phone strings, soft toys were sold at the school fair to raise funds.

Art Competition/Making of Calendar  (September)

Around 100 children participated.  19 pieces of art were selected to grace a 2009 desk-top calendar on sun bears.  These calendars were sold in December 2008 and January 2009 to raise funds.

“Goldilocks & The Bears”  (November)

“Save an Endangered Species-save our sun bear” performances were held on 18^th November by 60 children from the school drama club.  This performance was the culmination of the children’s year-long activities.  We greatly appreciate KLPAC’s generous sponsorship of 50% of the theatre costs in support of our educational project intended to create environmental awareness and also as an educational experience in the performing arts for Malaysian school children.  

Donation to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)  (December)

The PTA has so kind to earmarked RM5,000 (US$1500) from our successful “Save Our Sun Bears” campaign to be donated the BSBCC in Sepilok, Sabah in support of their conservation and rehabilitation efforts. This is the  second time that the school has donated fund to my sun bear project. Thank you Bukit Damansara National School!! You are the best!!  

From all of these activities, I am sure that I am not working alone to help sun bears. I see hope. I see bright light. I see a better future!

Photo credits: Aiman Rashad & Low Mei Ling