Bornean Sun Bear Conservation

Hope at last for Borneo’s Sun Bears

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About Siew Te Wong

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jun 18 2008 | By: Siew Te Wong

Sun bears are the least know bears and a forgotten bears species as I always call them. Certainly, it is not surprise that not many people know who I am and thus a proper introduction is needed for the readers of this blog to get to know me better as well as my work with sun bears …

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I am a Malaysian Chinese, born in 1969 and raised in Penang at northern Peninsular Malaysia. “Wong” as I am known as, is actually my family name, and “Siew Te” is my first name. I love animals all my life. Since I was a first grader, “animal expert” was my ambition on the student record until the very last year in high school. Not surprisingly, my childhood was companioned by various kinds of pets. I became a successful pet breeder during my teenage. Studying abroad in Taiwan in 1989 was a turning point in my life. Although I was studying animal husbandry and veterinary, I had begun to appreciate wildlife even more when I was an active member in the student chapter of the Bird Watching Society. Through my binoculars, I learned to appreciate the beauty of wildlife, nature, and forest. Ironically, I also witnessed unlawful mist netting of wild birds, poaching of wildlife, illegal pet trades, and habitat degradation.

After graduated the animal husbandry and vet program, Prof. Kurtis Pei, a wildlife professor at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, recruited me as his research assistant. It was then I started my career as a field biologist/research assistant doing wildlife survey, camera trapping, radio collaring and tracking large mammals, taking care of endangered species at Pei’s wildlife rescue center, and all of goofy stuff people seen in Discovery Channel.

In 1994, I came to University of Montana to seek a dream that was considered as “difficult task” for many people from ordinary Asian family. The dream, which put me on a right track of my career, was to pursue a bachelor degree in Wildlife Biology. The same year, I met my then future academic advisor, Dr. Christopher Servheen, who was looking for a Malaysian student to conduct an ecological study on sun bears. In 1998, I began to study the ecology of Malayan sun bears in a rainforest of Malaysian Borneo as a project for M.S. thesis. For the first time, the study revealed the mysterious life history of this little known bear and many ecological aspects of Bornean rainforest. In 2002, I started my doctorate program at the same university. In view of there were so much unknown about sun bears, I decided the effects of logging on sun bears at the same study area where I did my MSc study in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo. Because of the conservation achievement from the project, I was appointed to co-chair the Sun Bear Expert Team for the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group, from 2002-2005.

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Since I started my plan to study sun bear, my interest on them grows daily. Beside wild bears, which were the focus of my studies, I also would like to learn more about captive bears. I often visited places where I heard sun bear were held in captivities: zoo, mini zoos, crocodile farms, private menageries, and even private homes. They were all kept in small cages, unhygienic environment, and in some places were completely disgusting! Some were cubs, some were full grown adults, and some were old individuals. Almost all of them suffered from serious stereotypic behavior, pacing all day long if there were any room in their tiny cage for them to pace. Seeing these bears in these captive condition were completely heart broken. However, I choose to find them, see more of them, and learn more about the stories behind them. This is how the idea of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, BSBCC, first came in to my mind (Please read previous postings about the BSBCC.)

Most wildlife like the sun bears is forest dependent species. They simply cannot survive outside the forest. My experience working in Southeast Asia shows desperate situation for the continuation of local forests. Much more work is needed to ensure the long-term survival of the native wildlife and forests. In many parts of Southeast Asia, the tropical forests are disappearing rapidly to a point where too late to do anything. In contrast, due to the economy and political stability, Malaysia still has a chance for conservationists to save the last stronghold of Southeast Asian rainforests and wildlife. We need distinguished biologists to train local students as conservationists and biologists, to educate public and government on the importance of conservation, and to study the flora and fauna in order to understand better its functions. I am and I was, trained as an “animal expert” or wildlife biologist for all these years. I hope to use these knowledge and training to do a great job in my career to conserve wildlife and forests.

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Over the last ten years, I have been engaging on sun bear research and conservation activities. However, due to the very little conservation interest among the conservation communities world wide, sun bear survival faces tremendous challenge from various threats. I hope with setting up of BSBCC, we can do more to help sun bears and their forest that is so precious to all of us. The challenge is huge but I am ready to take the challenge. However, I simply cannot do this alone. I need helps, supports, and allies. Together we can make a different for sun bears and other magnificent species in this region.      

15 Responses to “About Siew Te Wong”

Pin, on 26 Jun 2008

Admire your passion. Truly understand it is not an easy decision for Asian Family. We plan to send our team to the jungle and to get first hand help to animal conservation project, can you arrange this?

Siew Te Wong, on 29 Jun 2008

Hi Pin,
I sure can help you up with this mission. We can communicate more with emails and see what kind of work you and your team like to do and how U can help up. Thanks for the helps!

Jay Gilliland, on 07 Sep 2008

Helo Mr Wong
It has been almost 40 years ago. But back in 1972 I lived in Florida and stoped at a friends service station on the way home from work one evening and there was a cub bear. I ask Pat about it and he told me a customer had left it there. He was going to pick it up in the morning to have it declawed and defanged. So he could keep it in the apartment were he lived. I told Pat that I was taking it home with me as I lived out in the Ocala forest and have the guy call me. I had not heard from him in a week ahd ask Pat what happened he said that were he lived they would not let him have him there. He had a buddy that had a kennel of dogs and he could put him there. Pat had given him my phone number. Pat told me that the guy was not much. Well when I did here from him in about a month I told him what he owed me for food and up keep he said that if I wanted him he would bring all the papers up to Pat’s for me. He had all the shipping and looked like owner papers so I took them.
I got in touch with the New Yourk Zoo at the time and they told me what they thougth I should feed it and what shots that it might need. Well the raw meet Teddy did not like a all my wife had to cook it some for him to eat it. I took the info for the shots to our vet that we used and he order the vaccine. When it came in the girl called and said that Teddy’s shot’s were in and I took him down the next day. I left him in the car and went in and ask how to get around back and the girl said ALL pets had to come through the front. I said mam I don’t think you– and she said through the front and I said OK. So when Teddy and I came through the front door and Teddy stood up ( WELL ) well then we got to go around to the back. But the dogs and cats were still upset.
But now 40 years later I had a lot left to learn. I loved Teddy. He was out side on a long runner chain. When I was home he ran lose and would not let me out of his site for very long. And now I know how come when I put water in the wagon he would sit in it and play all day long. He would rip open your shirt pocker and steel your cigarettes and eat them and spit out the filter. The NY Zoo said that was okay as the tobacco would be good for him!!
Well Sir I will go for now as I am no good at this email stoff.
If you are in the US and have I would like to call you as I have a verizon cell phone.
As for what happened to Teddy. I fell 52 feet in 1973 and could not walk or work. I wore a boddy cast for a year. I could not afford to keep and feed him. A good friend of mine told me his uncle would keep him on there farm for me. when I sak about Teddy they said he was doing good. But when I was geting closer to wanting to go and get him. then they told me that his wife was afraid of him and they to him to Leesburg. So he was given to the wild animal park in Leesburg Fl.
I never did go down there to try and see him as they said I could not get him back. But I have never forgit him. I do have a few pictures.

Jay Gilliland
Springville Tn.

Siew Te Wong, on 10 Sep 2008

Hi Jay,
Thanks for sharing your story. I am sure there were a lot to tell and share of Teddy and you. Yes, I am in US, you can call 406-542 7430. Looking forward to have a chit-chat with you.
Cheers,
Wong

Jeanette McDermott, on 05 Dec 2008

I have posted photos and info about the plight of Sun bears at my social network http://ecopaparazzi.ning.com. I link back to Wildlife Direct, Mongabay, BearTrek and Wild Asia.

This is a critical problem you are involved in, and I’d like to help with your conservation efforts in any way I can through the network, including helping you raise money and giving you a presence on the website to help raise awareness.

Please visit ecopaparazzi and send me a note so we can begin dialogue. You can learn more about me at my website:
http://www.jeanettemcdermott.org

Let’s chat!
Jeanete

Siew Te Wong, on 09 Dec 2008

Dear Jeanette,

Thanks for doing the posting. I look at your website and really impress with the information you posted. thanks for doing all of that.
Sun bear need helps from many people to spread their plight. You can help by posting news about them and our works. We have many thing in common. Please do feel free to contact me and like you said, let’s chat. My skype is “wongsiew”.
Thanks again.

John, on 22 Dec 2008

Wong,

Thank you so so much for your hard work researching and protecting the sun bear and other Malaysian animal species. Your efforts are very much appreciated from afar.

John in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Siew Te Wong, on 22 Dec 2008

Hi John,
You are very welcome. All of the works I did would not be possible without the helps from many people. They all are the true heroes behind what you seen. You too can help us make a different for sun bears!
~Wong

Pinch Pennies Save Planet » Blog Archive » Festive Beginning of February, on 02 Feb 2009

[…] want to look over our budget, and see if we can donate any money to Siew Te Wong to help with his work rescuing bears.  Jeanette McDermott has created a stirring post about […]

Madeleine, on 23 Aug 2009

Hi Siew Te,

Glad to see a fellow Asian doing this. I’m from Taiwan myself and it was Jeanette who mentioned to me about what you’re doing. I’m trying to save the moon bears and I have to admit that I didn’t even know about the sun bears until now! I did visit the Malaysian Borneo about 10 years ago and toured the rain forest by motorboat. I wonder if the hibiscus monkeys are still around? Anyway bravo on the work and keep in touch!

Madeleine

Siew Te Wong, on 24 Aug 2009

Hi Madeleine,
Thanks for leaving me a message. It is good to know too you as a fellow Asian, especially a Taiwanese, is helping the Asian bear species. I am not surprise that you did not know about sun bear before this. They are so little know and people simply forgot about them. I called them a forgotten bear. What I have been doing is trying to change all of these. I have been seeking for people like you and Jeanette to help sun bear so that they are not being forgotten for the benefit of all life forms.
I am happy to learn that you are starting a good cause in NY helping AAF and their animals. I hope you can one day do the same for sun bears. Help us spread the words about sun bear and their plight in New York.
FYI, the place that you visited should be Sukau to see the proboscis monkeys. Yes, the place and the wildlife are still there but the forest is shrinking and the wildlife is jeopardized as we speak. There are many sun bears in the forest along the river but no one has special interest to conserve them. We hope BSBCC will do more to protect them on the ground and working closely on the conservation in many places in Borneo, especially Sabah, the last strong hold of Bornean wildlife.
Thank you for your kind words. However, I did not do all of this alone and can’t do them all by myself. I need helps from many others and people like you to make a different for sun bear, their habitat, and all the life form on Earth including you and me! Jeannette has enlighten me on a lot of things, including how ordinary person can do to help wildlife and how internet is becoming an important tool to aid wildlife conservation. Really hope one day we all can work together to make a little difference to this world, one at a time, and slowly, we will get there. Never give up!

Bear hugs,
Siew Te

[BLOCKED BY STBV] Steve Noel Sr., on 15 Sep 2009

Steve Noel Sr….

Your topic Remove Mammal Murderer Pataki From Power | Democrats.com was interesting when I found it on Tuesday searching for donate teddy bears as I also have articles and information posted on this subject. Thank You… Best Regards Steve Noel Sr….

caroline rupert, on 15 Oct 2009

Hi Siew Te,
I work for a charitable organisation that is coming to Sepilok in the next month, I would really love to set something up so that we can perhaps help you in some way. I really admire what you are doing here!
Caroline

Siew Te Wong, on 15 Oct 2009

Hi Caroline,
Thank you for your interest to work with us. I am so happy that you plan to help us in some ways. However, like I mentioned in my email, we have some difficulties to accommodate your group next month due to the reason I mentioned. I feel bad to decline your offer but I hope you understand our situation. Anyway, I hope there is still many opportunity to work with you in the future as long as there is more time to plan ahead and to get the proper documents ready.
Thank you!
~Wong

Lysa, on 18 Oct 2009

Keep up the good work!Nature rules!Yeah!

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