Conserving Sabah’s sun bears
Category: BSBCC | Date: May 26 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
The following article was published in the Timber Malaysia, Jan-Feb 2009 issue, the magazine published by the Malaysian Timber Council. This is surely a big step toward showing supports and recognition on BSBCC by the Malaysian government. Thank you MTC!
Sabah has expended significant effort and resources to establish sanctuaries for endangered wildlife such as the Orang Utan, Sumatran rhinoceros, Borneo pygmy elephants and Proboscis monkeys. In yet another commendable effort, Sabah is establishing a rehabilitation and conservation centre for sun bears.
Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Musa Aman, said that Sabah’s sun bears are one of the world’s eight bear species, and noted that research has shown Borneo, particularly Sabah, to be amongst the last few habitats for sun bears. He added that the state wants to protect the mammal, which is considered a unique species.
“Conservation efforts must include getting them back into the wild,” he said at a fund-raising event held recently for the establishment of the RM1.2 million conservation centre in Sepilok, Sandakan. He added that another major task is to raise awareness on this little-known animal.
Known as the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), the facility will be the first of its kind in Asia. It is being jointly developed by Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) and a non-governmental organisation, Land Empowerment of Animal and People (LEAP).
The centre will provide opportunities for research on the animal apart from serving as a focal point for studies on sun bears in Asia. It will also be developed as an educational and awareness facility as it is located next to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Spearheading the project is sun bear researcher and conservationist, Wong Siew Te. A local non-profit company, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sdn Bhd, has been set up with Wong as the CEO. A Memorandum of Understanding between SWD, SFD and LEAP was signed in November 2008.
Construction work, to begin in March 2009, is scheduled for completion by end-2009. According to Wong, the establishment of the centre will be carried out in three phases with phase one costing RM1.1 million and RM1.5 million for phase two and phase three.
An enclosure will be built under the first phase, which can house 20 sun bears. The second phase involves the construction of an observatory platform, exhibition centre and a gallery for visitors to view the sun bears in their natural habitat. For phase three, a second bear house will be built. Phase two will commence in early 2010 and be completed within six months while work on phase three will start in the later part of 2010.
There are presently 12 sun bears confiscated by the SWD and housed at its facilities in Sepilok. “The centre is crucial for the survival of the bears as there is no appropriate facility in Sabah to shelter the number of sun bears rescued by SWD from captivity or after they have been left orphaned,” he said.“Even though the sun bears are kept in captivity, they can gain access to the natural forest to enjoy life in the wild once the centre is completed.
This innovative project aims to provide a holistic approach to the conservation of the Sun Bear, combining improved facilities for captive bears with increased public awareness both at the local and international levels. Perhaps most importantly, they can be released back into the wild after being rehabilitated,” concludes Wong.
A short trip into the forest - BSBCC
Category: BSBCC, LEAP | Date: May 22 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
by - Bob (BATs - Bear Action Teams)
Original posted at: http://leapspiral.blogspot.com/search/label/BORNEAN%20SUN%20BEAR%20CONSERVATION%20CENTRE
On 30th April, 2009 Ian Hall and I took a trip down to Sepilok with the express purpose of getting bitten by leeches, cover ourselves in scratches, insect bites, exhaust ourselves and get very sweaty. These objectives were reached with ease and we are both feeling pretty pleased with ourselves (an a little bit itchy!)
During our trip into the forest Ian had his binoculars permanently fixed to his eyes as he tracked the movements of every bird in the areas and I enjoyed more of those quiet sit down and smoke moments than was probably good for me.
The trip was a success from another angle! I secured a new girlfriend! Suria (2 year old bear) and I had our ‘first date’ and all the signs are positive for our future relationship.
Suria
All the enjoyment noted above was in the pursuit of some real goals. We managed to ‘recce’ an area of jungle with a view to creating a jungle camp for volunteers, plan the work sites and allocations of labour forces, survey the ‘enclosure’, inspect the drainage system for the existing bear house and establish the locations of the material suppliers in Sandakan.
Suria getting used to her new ‘room’
So now it’s back to KK for the paper work and plan for the next one.
It’s fun working for LEAP!
A brand new look at LEAP new website!
Category: BSBCC, LEAP | Date: May 21 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
For many of you who consider me as the “daddy” of sun bears, then “mommy” of BSBCC must belong to Cynthia Ong, the director of LEAP. LEAP is a NGO founded by Cynthia Ong, base in Sabah with a US office in Oakland, California, USA.
“LEAP – Land Empowerment Animals People – trailblazes to discover new ways which provoke sustainable ecological co-existence, in engagement with communities, government, civil society and industry, by building partnerships and collaborations that create mutually transformative processes which seek to balance the needs of all. We work within the divides and gaps to bridge between fragmented and isolated groups, with the intention to build connections and common ground where new conversations can lead to new understanding and new solutions that serve the greater global community of land, animals and people.”
I met Cynthia in 2006 when I was desperately (“dying” to be more appropriate) searching for funding to conduct my field work on sun bear and bearded pigs in Danum Valley, Sabah. That meeting changed my life thereafter because through Cynthia and LEAP, I received supports from Alexander Abraham Foundation (AAF) and get to know Nancy Abraham, President of AAF. It was the continuous encouragements and supports in many ways (long story to tell), I founded BSBCC last year, with Cynthia being the co-directors, and LEAP, Sabah Wildlife Department, and Sabah Forestry Department, being the partners to manage and setting up BSBCC on the ground.
I am very grateful to LEAP and the LEAP team under the leadership of Cynthia for their help all these years, to bring us from nothing to something. It will be more to come I am sure. Our goals are of course to understand (which I spent the last 10 years trying to do so), to care, to help, and finally to save the little forgotten bear- the sun bears. Just like what Jane Goodall said:
“Only if we understand, can we care.
Only if we care, will we help.
Only if we help, shall they be saved.”
— Jane Goodall (1990)
So please join me to visit the new LEAP website. You can learn so much about this new but productive NGO that aim to bring a better tomorrow for LEAP – Land, Empowerment, Animals, People.
http://www.leapspiral.org/main.html
Currently LEAP is running 17 projects in Sabah. You can learn about this project at the website too.
How can you help? The best way is to support us and LEAP. Donations can be easily make via online donation. Together, we can make a difference!
Save the date: come join us in Kent, UK
Category: Fund raising, SBCT UK | Date: May 14 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Come and enjoy a fantastic family day out and help us raise money to save the ‘Forgotten Bear’!
On the Sunday 24th and Monday the 25th of May 2009, the Sun Bear Conservation Trust in conjunction with the Rare Species Conservation Centre in Sandwich, Kent are holding a ‘Sun Bear Conservation Weekend’ to raise money for the conservation of Sun Bears – the worlds smallest and least well known bear.
The Rare Species Conservation Centre is home to some of the world’s lesser known rare and endangered species, often overlooked in other more mainstream zoological establishments, such as: the Fat Tailed Dwarf lemur, the Arabian Sand Cat and of course, the Sun Bear. The centre was established in 2006 and forms part of The Rare Species Conservation Trust which is a registered U.K. charity (Registered charity number 1119230). Apart from running the Rare Species Conservation Centre, The Rare Species Conservation Trust also supports and runs various other in-situ conservation projects in the field. Thanks to the their kind generosity, members of the Sun Bear Conservation Trust will be hosting a number of stalls and attractions at the centre on the second May Bank Holiday including a raffle, cake stall and information stand, all to raise money for rescued Sun Bears in South-East Asia.
The Sun Bear Conservation Trust (SBCT) is a charitable organisation founded in 2008 by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who have been lucky enough to work with Sun Bears in Borneo. SBCT is currently working towards becoming a registered charity and has been holding several events across the country to achieve the mandatory fundraising threshold to register. It is hoped that the money raised on the ‘Sun Bears Conservation Weekend’ at the Rare Species Conservation Centre will help the SBCT achieve this goal. All money raised by SBCT so far is being used to support the work carried out by the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a sanctuary for orphaned and rescued Sun Bears, based at the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, Eastern Borneo. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is using the money donated to help build a much needed new centre for the Sun Bears they look after and also for the bear’s ongoing care. It is the hoped that, with the help of the money raised in the future, the majority of Sun Bears rescued by the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre will be rehabilitated and released into the wild. SBCT also hope to use some of the money raised in the future to raise awareness of the plight faced by the Sun Bear.
What is a Sun Bear?
The Sun Bear, which is also known as honey bear, is the smallest of the world’s eight bear species and also one of the most threatened. They can be found in several South-East Asian countries including, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, but their number are decreasing in all the countries in which they inhabit. Sun Bears can grow to just over a metre in length, stand approximately 2.5ft tall when standing on all four feet and rarely weigh more than 65kg. Sun Bears have sleek short fur, brown or black in colour with a cream coloured crescent on their chest said to resemble the rising and setting sun. They have a small tail and a very long tongue which helps them reach larvae, termites and of course honey hidden in the forest. Sun Bears have long curved claws and a pigeon towed gait, both of which make them excellent tree climbers. Sun Bears in the wild will often build nests high in the trees in which to sleep or sunbathe during the day.
Threats to the Sun Bear
Major threats currently faced by these unique animals are illegal poaching and habitat destruction, however, Sun Bear body parts are also highly sought after for traditional Chinese remedies, in particular Sun Bear bile. Bile from Sun Bears is collected in Bear Bile farms where bears are kept in tiny cages and their bile continually collected from open wounds in their abdomen. The bears in these farms suffer substantial amounts of pain and often get large tumours and fatal infections as a result of their treatment
Sun Bears paws are also considered a delicacy in some South East Asian countries and in some cases, the bears paws are cut off while the animal is still alive. Adult mother Sun Bears are also often killed for their babies which are then sold as pets. In all of the above cases Sun Bears suffer tremendously. It is estimate that the worlds Sun Bear population has declined by at least 30% over the past 30 years and continues to decline at this rate. It is also one of the 6 bear species threatened with extinction.
Please come along on to the ‘Sun Bear Conservation Weekend’ at the Rare Species Conservation Centre on the 24th and 25th May for a fun filled family day out and help us protect this beautiful species. For more information on Sun Bears and the work carried out by the Sun Bear Conservation Trust and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation, please visit: http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/
Or contact Fiona McInally on 07872919152, Fiona.mcinally@gmail.com
Or Julie Trump on 07950611970 or at julie.trump@btinternet.com
For more information on the Rare Species Conservation Centre, please visit www.rarespeciesconservationcentre.org
The Rare Species Conservation Centre is situated on the A256 Dover Road Roundabout, just outside of Sandwich, Kent.
The centre is open 10 am - 6 pm (last admission is 5 pm)
Entry fees: Adults £8
Bowling for sun bears!
Category: BSBCC, Fund raising | Date: May 11 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
A fun family bowling event to raise money for Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre will be held May 16 from 2:00-4:00 at Boulevard Lanes in Dover, Ohio. It is organize by Wild4Ever (http://www.wild4ever.com), a non-profit wildlife conservation foundation dedicating 100% of generated funds to the preservation of wild animals in the wild.
Adult Tickets $15.00, Children 12 & Under $12.00. Ticket price includes 2 hours of bowling, food, beverage and fun! Raffle will be held the day of the event with lots more great items to choose from! Wild4Ever Sun Bear tees will be available for $15.00 each.
For more information email shamu_1@sbcglobal.net.
Please visit http://www.wild4ever.com/news-wild4ever.php to learn more.
Thank you very much to Dr. Gary Riggs, DVM, chairman of Wild4ever, and his team to organize such a wonderful event to help us in Borneo. We wish you have a success event!
Tags: BSBCC, Fund raising, sun bear, www.wild4ever.com
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!
Category: BSBCC | Date: May 10 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers regardless of species! Mom is always the greatest! The coolest! And the best!
Although I am pretending to be a mother of this poor sun bear cub who lost her mom to the hand of poacher, I am not even close to fulfill the great roles of a mother bear do and take good care of their cubs.
Here are series of photos taken in my study area at Danum of a mother sun bear climb up a tall tree with her cub in search of honey. In the middle of the tree there was a bee hive with yummy honey. Not only Pooh bear loves honey. The sun bears also known as “honey bear” in Malay language because of their affection to honey. There is nothing can stop a sun bear from eating and finding honey, even if the bee hive is concealed in a tree cavity of a hard wood species 30 meters above the ground!
Although it may look dangerous, this is what sun bear do in the wid. The mother was showing her cub how to climb, how to get hold of honey, and of course, at the end, a good feast on honey- a good source of energy and nutrient.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers regardless of species! May you all always be happy, joyful, safe and be at peace.
SUN BEAR CONSERVATION WEEKEND
Category: SBCT UK | Date: May 08 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Sunday 24th May & Monday 25th May 2009
Come to Rare Species Conservation Centre located at Kent, UK and learn more about the plight of the Sun Bear, we will have talks by Wai-Ming Wong (our soon to be in the field Sun Bear researcher) who will be undertaking an RSCC sponsored Sun Bear study in the jungles of Sumatra. Sun Bear cookie icing, Sun Bear Masks, Sun Bear face-painting and enrichment sponsorship. Funds raised will go to the Sun Bear Conservation Trust, which is helping to raise funds to protect and preserve Sun Bears in South East Asia.
Tags: Rare Species Conservation Centre, sun bear, Sun Bear Conservation Trust
We must act now! The future generations are depending on us!
Category: habitat loss | Date: May 06 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Tropical Rainforests wrap around the equator of the earth like a green belt. Tropical rainforests contain a hugely rich diversity of species of plants and animals including sun bears. Rainforests are precious resources for all of us – not just for the nations in which they are found. They provide vital ecosystem benefits for the whole world.
Rainforests around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate. This is increasingly due to destructive logging operations and conversion of the land for farming use.
The Prince’s Rainforests Project believes that emergency funding is needed to help protect rainforests and to encourage rainforest nations to continue to develop without the need for deforestation.
Please support this project by simply signed up as a supporter of the Prince’s Rainforests Project to add your voice to the many calling for urgent action to fight climate change by addressing rainforest destruction.
http://www.rainforestsos.org/
Adding your name costs nothing, but without it, deforestation might just cost us the Earth.
The need for action is urgent. Recent research shows that it will be impossible to avoid catastrophic climate change without it.
Tags: , rainforest, sun bear
Thank you for your donation!
Category: BSBCC | Date: May 05 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
It has been a year since we joined the family of Wildlife Direct to post stories and to share view of sun bears and other related issues. I want to thank Wildlife Direct and its team for giving us this opportunity to do so at the same time collect donations from the readers.
After a year of blogging, we have successfully collected more than $2500 donation from this blog. I want express my sincere thank to every one of you who have kindly donated funds to us and support us in every which way. This fund has been used on the operation cost for BSBCC such as paying salary for staffs, buying bear food, education materials, and others.
Your contribution has made all of our work possible here at BSBCC to bring a better life for the unfortunate pet sun bears, as well as raise conservation awareness and plight of the species. I really wish I could thank you in person over and over again for your help and contribution. Because I do not have access to know your personal email and contact information when you donate, please feel free to contact me at:wongsiew@hotmail.com so that I can send you a thank you message personally.
We still need your helps in every which way beside donation. You could help us spread the words about the cause of our works, tell your friends about the plights of sun bears and things that you learned from this blogs, or show them a photo of a sun bear. I sincerely know one day everyone who knows about giant panda or orangutan or other charismatic wildlife also know about sun bears. Let’s help us working hard to achieve that the sun bear no longer be the least known bear in the world and a “forgotten bear”!
Thank you all!
How you can help us to protect wildlife in Malaysia
Category: poaching, threats | Date: May 05 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
In view of the recent incident where armed poachers lay siege of the forest office base, there has been many concerns and comments from the readers. Thank you all for your comments. You all raised appropriate concerns over the incident, both to the wildlife that loss their lives in these massacres, as well as the protectors of wildlife who almost loss their life on duty.
As the wildlife habitat shrinking as we speak due to human activities in these wild land, the value of each existing individual wildlife is even higher. Each and every single one of them is important to the survival of the population and later on the entire species. There are so many species of wildlife on Earth that has been whipped out in so many places on Earth. The extinction of a species will never be reversible. Borneo is the last stronghold of magnificent SE Asian’s wildlife. This island is considered as one of the last secure place for many wildlife species.
Yet, we as a dominant species on Earth, we destroyed their habitat in many ways in the name of modern development, wealth, demand to meet someone’s needs and greed. This kind of killing should not take place in the first place. But yet, it happened. We have to stop this act no matter what!
Here is what you can help to improve our wildlife protection in Malaysia:
1) Show supports to the staff of Sabah Forestry Department who injured in the line of duty. Write to the director of the forestry department at http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/more/contact.asp to show your support and urge them to continue the protection of the forest and wildlife.
2) Sign the petition that was set up the at http://www.petitiononline.com/MYLaw/petition.html. The petition was set up last year and wishes to collect 100,000 signatures by June 2009. It seem impossible now because pathetically only 4849 signatures have been collected up until today. Anyway you can read more at sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2008/10/25/we-need-your-help-to-protect-wildlife-in-malaysia/ and relevant posting on this blog.
3) Support conservation work in Sabah by supporting LEAP’s work at http://www.leapspiral.org/main.html. LEAP is an NGO base in Sabah that created BSBCC. Please visit their brand new website and learn more about our works! http://www.leapspiral.org/Thank you all for your supports!
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