Last week I received an email entitled “sun bear”. I typically received a dozen or so emails with “sun bear” each week so I read the email with a normal sensation. However, my feeling was over the roof after I read it. I understand the confidentiality of personal emails that were sent to me. However, I would like to make an exception this time to share this email with all of you because this story raises a serious issue that I hope all readers should have be crystal clear after reading our blogs and knowing what we are trying to help sun bears:
NO! YOU CANNOT KEEP SUN BEAR AS PET!
Here is the email I received:
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Dear Mrs Wong.
Alright, so i started browsing sites just looking at sun bears and I stumbled up yours about the conservation of wildlife that’s either endangered or protected. While watching the video about the Malaysian zoos that sell these animals illegally it got me intrigued. Basically, the just of this email is whether or not their is a legal way to gain possession of a Sun Bear as a pet. This bear is fascinating and in a few years I’d love to have one around. So while looking around I figured I would send an email and get a response.
This may seem odd or strange but I was planning on having some sort of “exotic” pet when the time comes around. Now, I don’t think of this as a prize, or something I can show off as a trophy. But merely an animal that can be nurtured in a loving and providing household.
So can it be done? Can a Sun Bear become a persons’ pet, or is it a strictly zoo animal?
I’d love to hear back
Sincerely,
C@#$ S*^&*^%
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This is my reply to him:
Hi C@#$,
Sorry for the late reply. Your email came to at a busy time.
Thank you for checking with me about the idea of getting a sun bear as pet. For your information, this is really a BAD idea trying to keep a sun bear as pet. It is wrong morally, socially, and legally. Sun bear is protected by law in every country within their range. Keeping or owning a sun bear without proper permit from the authority is illegal. On top of that, sun bear is a wildlife that is impossible to tame. At the end, the bear end up being locked up in metal cage performing all kind of crazy stereotypic behavior. This is a really sad, stressful, and pain for the bear, and the behavior of keeping a sun bear as pet is very sick and has to be condemn seriously. Please read my blog of the “captive sun bear series I, II, III” at http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/.
In my career I have come across numerous pet sun bears in SE Asia. I consider myself very lucky as one of very few people in the world who is able to observe how sun bear live in the wild. However, I also am one of the few in the world who got to see so many “pet” sun bears, kept by so call “pet lovers”, that live in the condition that no word can describe how badly they were. The cause of this sick behavior, literary torture the bears at every second, was originated from the ill “animal loving” behavior, similar to what you plan to do. So if you ask me if it is a good idea to keep a sun bear as pet, my answer to you is “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
As you can see our website, what we are trying to do at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is to rescue pet-caged sun bears from irresponsible and criminal bear owners. We have spent tremendous amount of efforts and resources to improve the living quality of these ex-pet bears and to help them. We are trying hard to fix the mess that these irresponsible, criminal, cool blooded bear owners have created. So if you are smart enough to see what we are trying to do, the answer is again an absolutely NOT A GOOD idea to keep sun bear as pet, and a sun bear CANNOT become a person’s pet, and it CANNOT be done! Period!
Kindest regards,
Wong
P/S: My gender is male, so please is Mr. Wong.
Good for you to make this front and centre! We get such requests too for black and grizzly bears and I am not as polite as you where. Why do people feel the need to domesticate everything? It seems that liking something for what it is is never enough, it needs to be changed somehow to recive a human stamp of approval.
Siew – It amazes me ignorant people are sometimes about exotic wildlife. Hopefully your very information email to this person will make it perfectly clear that Sun Bear’s are never to be raised as pets.
These are some comments from facebook:
Phil Palmer: I really hope that wasn’t an email from the UK ? and it just highlights how little people know about wildlife and how to treat it !!! Nice answer though Wong .. very diplomatic
16 hours ago · Like · 1 person
Wong Siew Te: Thanks Phil. This email make me think we had a long way to go to achieve our goals. Well, if all do our part to educate people what is right and what is wrong. Hope people will learn…
16 hours ago · Like · 4 people
Phil Palmer: Exactly.. I still cant understand why people think a wild animal would be happier in their home ? No one liked being grounded as a child by thier parents or going to prison as an adult so why should animals want to be confined ?? . … Good News my end . I am going to Vietnam next month to help set up a trek to track Tonkin Snub Nosed Monkeys, All money paid for this trek goes to the rangers and research facilities and we are making sure the accommodation & travel work is shared out among the local hill tribes .. very excited as they where thought extincted only 15 or so yrs ago .. Its working with Fauna & Flora Int .. Also been talking to Nev at Free the Bears in Cambodia and we are building his facilities into our tours as well … Its all starting to come together : )
See More
15 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Maren Dallmann: I can’t believe this person read your blog and still asked this question!!!! We do have a very, very long way to go in every way though. I don’t understand why anyone would think a wild animal would be happy in their home, even if their original plan is to let them roam free in the house (which will obviously never work anyway). Why would anyone think a wild animal could be happy in a house????
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person
Maren Dallmann: I’ve just been thinking about this again – can this person really be serious????? One of the questions was if sun bears make good pets or if they are just zoo animals. I just can’t believe anyone could even ask that question! What animal is born to be a zoo animal??
11 hours ago · Like
Wong Siew Te: only idoit think this way! no further comment
10 hours ago · Like · 1 person
Wong Siew Te: and criminal too!
10 hours ago · Like · 1 person
Eco Gear: i’ll bet you i can buy one in Canada.The laws here are so loose that I can buy and license a tiger for $85.of course I’d have to be in a rural setting but it still shows the problem in North America where bears and all are routinely kept as “prizes” to show status
10 hours ago · Like
Phil Palmer: It has to be a combination of Greed, stupidity & one up manship because any clear thinking human would know its wrong .. Sorry to hear Canada are so slack as I’ve always thought Canda was in front of the UK on animal welfare ??? We wont let people have endangered species but then we have taken nearly all the original habitat over the years so not saying the UK is good example !!!
10 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Wong Siew Te: WE got a long way to fight, guys and gals. Join force, keep unite, we cannot lost this bettle. So far no sun bear being breed for international pet market like most big cats. However, there is no shortage of wild sun bear cubs keep by the locals. We need to keep making noise. See my latest posting http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2011/05/05/see-for-yourself-ngos-told/
9 hours ago · Like · 3 people
Else Poulsen: No Phil – Canada’s laws on animal welfare are very, very primitive to non-existent. Sorry to burst the bubble but we canadians do like to tell the world that we are always the good guys because that’s our national myth – that we are unlike the rest of the world.
9 hours ago ·
Else Poulsen: Should have added – the UK is further ahead in thinking and legislation. It’s not by coincidence that some of the world’s most effective animal welfare advocates such as Jill Robinson of Animals Asia are from Britain.
9 hours ago · Like · 3 people
Dawn Edwards, Maren Dallmann and Eco Gear like this.
Dawn Edwards: Unbeleivable…
9 hours ago · e
Shelley AndJim Poston: you are really helping to save so many bears and educate people. Thank you for all of your work!
Well answered Wong. To the point and polite, although don’t think I could be so polite. It is this sort of ignorance that creates the sick world we live in where humans think they have the right to be dominant over every other species. Please continue your fantastic work.
Dear all,
Thank you for your comments on this topic. You all have raised the similar concerns that bears are not pets. It cannot be done simply because they are wild animals. As a person, I can only do a certain amount to educate people (source of all problems) and raise awareness for sun bears. But, if we all contribute our time and efforts, I am sure we could do more. Keep spporting us and help spread the words —-> NO! YOU CANNOT KEEP SUN BEAR AS PET!
Good answer Wong! I can remember as a child thinking any animal would make a great pet, bringing home everything from snakes to rabbits. When you know nothing about wildlife, only that animals are beautiful you want to enjoy their beauty all the time. It was when my uncle brought home a young Squirrel Monkey that I truly realized how inappropriate it is to attempt to keep a wild animal as a pet. It was a nightmare having the monkey in the house! They BITE….hard!…and they climb, everything! They urinate and defecate EVERYWHERE! and they smell awful! It was obvious she hated being in a house and wanted to be free. I would never recommend that anyone keep a wild animal as a pet; they are far more enjoyable when observed in their own natural habitat. That was when I was 10 years old. (43 years ago in Canada.)
Many people who lack experience with animals, but who love them, have the childlike belief that all animals are like cats and dogs, easy to train, housebreak, don’t bite or climb (much), and enjoy living in a house with humans. It is very valuable to have groups like this one to spread the word that owning a wild animal is NOT what people think it will be. It is an awful experience for both humans and animals!
We do need laws to prevent inexperienced people from making these mistakes. It was lucky that we knew a Biology Professor who was pleased to give our monkey a new home, and they lived happily together for years….somehow, thank goodness!
Three CHEERS for you Wong!! Education is the key! Hip, Hip Hooray!
Hi Cindy and Jill,
Thanks for your message. Yes, wildlife is wildlife, pet is pet. It has to be crystal between these two groups of animals. Thanks for sharing your experience. It show wildlife never be a good pet, so exotic pet lovers, it is not cool to keep exotic pets and no you cannot keep sun bear as pet!
Yes, Jill, Education is the key. We all need to do more!
Great answer Wong. We recently got an urgent request to find an orangutan that could star in a movie!!! I thought those days were gone and left in the 80′s. No matter how much to shout, there will always be one or two that remind us our work is far from complete. Keep up the good work!
Afzaal
www.thegreatprojects.com
Pingback: NO, you cannot keep sun bear as pet! Take 2 – Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Dear Mr.Wong,
Um, I’m confused.
I read this article and the three you linked to it, and yet it’s never clearly defined why it’s a bad idea to own a sun bear.
I mean, the majority of the argument is based around the fact that sun bears are kept in toxic and unhealthy environments by irresponsible owners. This can be said about any animal owner, provided that said owner is an inhumane asshat.
I mean to this guy you basically said that he shouldn’t own a sun bear because he MIGHT be irresponsible, (which is akin to saying someone shouldn’t own a stove or anything with fire in mind because they might be a serial arsonist). Now I could see your point if the dude’s actual name was Hatebears Neglectington.
Joke’s aside, you do touch upon they the fact that they grow bigger and larger (as most animals tend to do), but sunbears typically hit up around 4ft, which if you’re a midget or Snooki from Jersey Shore, makes it a bad idea to own one out of pure common sense and fear for one’s mortal being. For normal 5ft and up people (or “tallies” as I like to refer to us) the size thing typically means we win, I mean there are dogs bigger than sunbears and people own them just fine (amazingly humans can every now and again be around animals without murdering the heck outta them or stuffing them in a cramped box (I’m as shocked that humans can surpress this urge as you are)). And yes there are the claws, but simple manicuring can handle that, right?
So, in summation, let’s assume a crazy idea that a person can responsible (gasp), has enough to support a large dog, food and space included (say whaaaa?), and can suppress the urge to shove animals in small cages half filled with excrement (monocle pop!), why EXACTLY is it a bad idea to own a sun bear?
Thanks John, for adding some sort of common sense, rational type of response to this lifeless one sided blog!
I agree that people should not buy wild animals for the purpose of having them as pets, but if they have the knowledge and outdoor space for a RESCUED sun bear, I see no harm in keeping one.
Keep in mind, “knowledge” and “space” are hard to find in the world today
John Sayles,
I get your point. You just want to define the fact that we should all just domesticate every single animal available just because we can. “simple manicuring can handle that, right?” Everything can be a pet. All animals can be tamed and should be tamed as pets should you wished it. As a “loving” pet or as a thing to be paraded in your neighborhood. If u just wish it. Once again yes, because you can. You must miss the days where you can just buy lion cubs from Harrods.
Its okay. You got a long way to go. I pity you. Sob.
SHAZAM,
You’re a plain idiot. One sided lifeless blog? Sole OBJECTIVE is to spread AWARENESS ABOUT CONSERVATION OF WILFLIFE. ESPECIALLY SUN BEARS! GO back to school! You must have stakes in the wildlife trade eh? Or perhaps you’re Anson Wong himself?
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To RR (RE: RR perhaps? I dunno):
First of all, buy a lion at Harrods? Holy shit that’s awesome! Where was I when that was happening? Second of all, chill out or get better writers, your jokes come off as too angry and condescending, and really I think we’ve had enough Comedy Central Roasts? Third, seriously? You could just up and BUY A LION? Ohmygerd!
Being serious. I was simply commenting on the lady’s argument (and I feel sorry for having called her a man). With the evidence that she presented, as to why it’s a bad idea to own a sun bear, her answer was because people abuse them. An answer which I found lacking, since my natural reaction to owning a pet is not to neglect it or abuse it, but to care for it. And I don’t know about you, but whenever I get a pet it’s not for the purpose of keeping up with the Joneses, as you insinuated, but companionship and fulfillment.
But not to get boggged down in an internet shouting match, (because, really, we both lose then), my comment was supposed to have evoked a response and proper answer as to enlighten more so anyone who (such as myself) was not aware of the difficulties of acquiring and owning an exotic pet such as a sun bear. Now, Mrs. Wong’s articles mentioned in a snippet the fact that they are endangered and therefor off limits, that I can respect. But that wasn’t the main focus of her answer. Her answer amounted to “PEOPLE ARE BAD!”
Now I had to reread the articles to find the endangered information, so you can forgive me certain facts. But ultimately my comment was supposed to be a humorous begging of the questions; What exactly are a sun bears needs? And if one could own a sun bear, doing so safely, carefully, with the animal’s health and best interests in mind, why shouldn’t it?
Because, honestly, if it can be done, and more importantly, done without causing harm, why shouldn’t it? Neither you or Mrs. Wong I feel (excluding the endangered species comment which needs to be more in the forefront), have really presented any evidence, logically, or even morally, which demonstrated why it couldn’t be done, nor why it shouldn’t be done.
Sincerely,
–John Sayles
Okay now I feel stupid (it’s not the first time, so i think I’ll manage) Wong is in fact male. It’s been a while since I talked about the article, so I skimmed it to prepare once more my statements, and say Mrs. Wong somewhere. My bad Siew Te Wong if you ever read this.
Re: John/RR. During my research on exotic pets, I came upon this site. However, after reading some of the posts, I came to the same conclusion as did John Sayles, which is not much of a conclusion at all. The arguments i’m hearing for not having a pet is, as John said, irresponsibility and poor living conditions. Now, if you put any animal in a cage and treat it badly, it’s a sad thing. It is no less sad to me to have a dog in such a situation than to have a bear in one. Certainly, all living things deserve to have a good life in good conditions. The questions John posed I think are quite valid, and have not received any sort of response. I’m seeing a lot of “IT’S IMMORAL HOW DARE YOU EVEN ASK” as the only sort of response to why one should not have such pets. If, for example, a cub is raised from a very young age in a very loving and happy environment with responsible owners who know how to care for it as it grows, keeping it happy, same as a puppy/dog would be, then please explain the reasons why this cannot/should not be. I simply want to understand why it does ‘not work’. For example, if the animal is raised from a young age as part of the family, like a dog would be, would it still attack the owners? Certainly a dog is like a family member and none of my dogs would EVER think of hurting me. Is it some how not the same with exotic pets? Let’s have some factual information please, not opinion/morality based should/shouldn’t.
Hi Exotic Pet Investigator,
Thank you for your comments.
Sun bear cannot keep as pet because of the following reasons. These reasons are not moral reason but factual reasons. I hope you understand the rationale behind them.
1) They are endangered species (Listed as vulnerable under IUCN Red Book Listing) and protected by local wildlife laws across SE Asia. Any killing/hunting/poaching, keeping, eating, and any kind of harassments, by law, are not permitted.
2) Sun bear are protected by International Trading Laws. They are listed as Appendix 1 under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). International trade is not allowed on sun bear. All international shipping across borders require proper permits from the countries’ CITED authority.
3) The protection of sun bears by various wildlife laws and trading convention is base on the fact that sun bear are endangered species. Their population in the wild is declining on an alarming rate in all range countries across SE Asia due to illegal hunting, habitat destruction and pet trade.
4) Sun bear do not breed well in captivities. All illegal pet sun bears were obtained from the wild. The process of catching a wild bear cub involved killing of their mother. If sun bear is allow keeping as pet, it will fuel the demand from the pet market that lead to more poaching of sun bears by poachers. Sooner or later, the local population will become extinct. When many local populations become extinct, it will lead to regional extinction, country extinction and finally extinction in the wild.
5) Sun bear has very slow reproduction rate. They do not breed like wild pigs do. A female bear is estimated to have 3-4 cubs in her life time and invest a lot of time nursing and caring for their young. Their population cannot withstand high hunting pressure. Every single bear in the forest carry a lot of “weight” to maintain a viable population. Excessive hunting or capturing cub (in the process the mother of the cub will be killed) will easily whipped out the local population.
Sun bears are not pets. They are wildlife. They are not pets and they do not breed in captivity. Keeping sun bears as pets will create a market in exotic pet market and someone will go hunt down the last sun bear to supply the market.
Dear Exotic Pet Investigator, I hope you now understand the facts listed above. These reasons are the factual reasons, not moral reason, of why we cannot keep sun bears as pets. If we do, their future will be doomed. They will not be able to perform the ecological roles that they play in forest ecosystem. At the end, the forest ecosystem will breakdown, and the organism that dependent on the forest, human included, will suffer.
Wong
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Perhaps all of us not need to react so strongly… im sure the asker was just making a gesture of curiosity. I came across this website after watching a video with a bear, thinking, hey, it would be cool to love one and have it as a friend that i would care for, maybe that could actually happen. I know now that it can’t, but i assure you that the last thing i thought of doing was treating it with hate and torture. I nor the asker wanted a bear to signify dominance like you all make it seem. And lastly, i would take my life before i would let my dog die, but all here value bears too much, abashed at a simple innocent question.
I agree with Marley^ in the sense that the person was just asking out of curiosity, I mean if you cant read the person clearly states “can it be done?” which means they are asking you because they DON’T know. I think the writer of this article has a very silly mentality considering that you don’t really know these people and for all you know they could be great people. I for one love bears and have always dreamed of having a bear as pet but I would never actually get one. Its one thing trying to buy a bear and being curious to see what it takes to get one so I honestly believe that you need to relax because after all… it was just a question.