Bornean Sun Bear Conservation

Category: SBCT UK, captivity, conservation, sanctuary | Date: Apr 17 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

Over Easter I was lucky enough to see the two beautiful Cambodian Sun Bears at the Rare Species Conservation Centre (RSCC), home to a unique collection of some of the world’s lesser known rare and endangered species of animal. As my husband Maurice and I arrived, ironically, the sun came out and Todd Dalton, ( Rare Species Conservation Trust) introduced us to his beloved Srey-Ya and Jo-Jo, playing happily in the sunshine (Read more about Srey-Ya and Jo-Jo at http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2008/11/11/brit-saves-rare-bears-from-being-eaten/). Jo-Jo was busy working on his ‘bear ice-lolly’ trying to claw out the tasty treats of fruits and coconut hidden inside and Srey-Ya was roaming about around the spacious outdoor enclosure, climbing logs and splashing in the pool! The centre is set over 2 acres and landscaped with lush sub-tropical plants and houses a wonderful array of unusual animals in very natural, spacious enclosures with indigenous plants and noticeably planned enrichment. Apart from the beautiful sun bears we marvelled at Malayan tapirs, Binturong, Asian Bearcats, White Cheeked Gibbons and a pair of Snow Leopard to name a few. The majority of the animals kept at RSCC are part of EEP and ESP breeding programs (European endangered species programmes) and they support many In-situ conservation projects (see below for contact/w.. The sun stayed out and we spent the afternoon watching the bears and observing other rare species like the glorious,brightly-coloured Cuban flamingoes and strikingly powerful Madagascan Fossa and very vocal, active Smooth Coated Otters!

The Sun Bear Conservation Trust is honoured to have the support, here in the U.K, of Todd Dalton and the centre and is to hold a ‘Sun Bear Weekend’ over the May Bank Holiday (24th & 25th May), an event celebrating and raising awareness and money for sun bears (funds to go to BSBCC in Sabah). There will be an array of stalls, manned by SBCT members, selling merchandise, arts and crafts, home-made cakes and, for the children, face-painting and ‘ice your own’ gingerbread sun bears! Wai-Ming Wong PhD student, based at Kent University (researching Sumatran sun bears) and SBCT member will kindly be providing an information stand answering visitor’s questions.

More news on the upcoming event will be posted here soon!  

RSCC is owned by Rare Species Conservation Trust.

UK Registered charity no. 1119230

info@rarespeciesconservationcentre.org

www.rarespeciesconservationcentre.org  

Julie Trump - Chairman - Sun Bear Conservation Trust

E-mail: julie.trump@btinternet.com

Srey-Ya was roaming in his enclosure.

Jo-Jo like to climb high to have a good view of the conservation centre.

 This is the size of the cage where people kelp bears in bear farm Asia. Imagine anyone being kept in this kind of environment for the rest of their life and to have their bile milk. Help us free the bears from cages!