A Sun Bear IS NOT a Panda—
Category: BSBCC, captivity, conservation, education, sanctuary | Date: Oct 06 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
A call for wildlife education and awareness in Malaysia
by Wai Pak Ng
Recently a friend and supporter of BSBCC went to visit the Victory Mini Zoo Farm in Papart, Kudat in the Northern Region of Borneo, and he was shocked by what he found. Apparently the Zoo was advertising that they had a Panda Bear but instead it was 2 Malayan Sun Bears, which are Totally Protected under Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment. The rationale for incorrectly identifying the bears is unclear—they may be using the name Panda to attract visitors or they could be mistaken about the type of Bear that they are housing. Either way, this error is misleading and embarrassing and unfortunately indicates that the Zoo management know very little about the wildlife that they are responsible for, which is a scary indicator of the level of treatment that the animals are receiving.
This gaffe also highlights the general lack of education that people have about the Malayan Sun Bear, and with this type of misinformation, it is no wonder that most people do not know that Malaysia has a bear species. This example proves that the local Malaysian community lacks coherent and correct information regarding wildlife in the region and would benefit substantially from increased environmental education and awareness. Malaysia is urgently in need of a complete environmental education system that would help promote local appreciation of our natural resources, unique wildlife species and our fragile natural habitat.
Perhaps the first step in addressing this issue would be for the government to implement and enforce strict guidelines on the Mini Zoos in the country, to ensure that they are utilizing best practices in caring for the animals and that the conditions provided for wildlife are appropriate. In conjunction with this, the government also has the opportunity to promote and fund Wildlife Centres that focus on awareness and education of local and international visitors in order to increase the impact that these Centres have. It is the time for the people and government of Malaysia to address the treatment of animals in Zoos and captivity (both legal and illegal) and begin to support a more sustainable and long-term model of animal care and welfare.
Tags: Bornean Bear Conservation Centre, BSBCC, Mini Zoo, Sabah, sun bear
Bear Exchange I: Sepilok to Lok Kawi Zoo
Category: BSBCC, captivity | Date: Sep 12 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
On the 27th August, I received an emergency order to go to Kota Kinabalu with the Sepilok senior ranger, Elis, to exchange a bear from our centre with a pregnant bear named Manis from Lok Kawi Zoo. The pregnant bear has to be taken care in BSBCC with the proper birthing den and 24 hours CCTV recording. Because of the limited space we have at BSBCC, one bear from BSBCC has to exchange with the zoo for the female bear. We have chosen Gutuk, the oldest male bear in BSBCC.
Early in that morning, Dr Cecilia, Elis and I were checking on Gutuk health condition before we put him to the translocation cage. He was chosen because he cannot to be released to the forest due to his weak eyesight and old age.
The 8 hours long journey from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu went well. We have to stop several times to check on Gutuk’s condition, fed and watered him. Luckily, it was not a sunny day; in fact it rained in the afternoon. Gutuk looked fine, but for sure it must be tiring for him and both of us as well.
We arrived Lok Kawi around 6.30 pm. Dr. Sen and his staffs were there welcoming Gutuk. Together we put Gutuk into the quarantine area. Gutuk was climbing up and try to get used to the new environment.
We hope Gutuk will enjoy his stay at Lok Kawi. Perhaps, we might get him back one day when our new centre is finished constructed.
Tags: Bornean Bear Conservation Centre, BSBCC, Lok Kawi Zoo, Sabah, sun bear
The suckling behavior of captive sun bears
Category: captivity, sanctuary, sun bear in the wild | Date: Sep 04 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Contented Bear?
Check out the video.. one of the sun bears was making a weird sound. It’s the one in the basket, her name is Suzie. Perhaps Papa Bear, Wong Siew Te can explain why?
The above video was posted on LEAP blog by Sue.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for posting this behavior on sun bears that not many people know about. This sound is a “suckling” sound when the bear such a particular body part of themselves or other bears. It is fairly common among the captive sun bears, especially young ones. The reason behind this is actually quite sad.
In the wild, mother sun bears nurse their cubs up to 2 years or even longer. During this time, besides suckling for mother’s milk, the process of suckling also let the cubs seek comfort and feel secure and safe being side by side with their mother. This behavior is best explained by human babies sucking pacifier to seek comfort. Same theory: no milk draw out from the pacifier, but the suckling action make the babies feel comfort and safe.
Most captive sun bears share the very similar stories: they all were being captured by poachers and separated with the mother when they were at very young age. These were serious traumas, especially those mother bears being slaughtered in front of the babies. There was a story that I will never forgot in my life: a tiny baby sun bear was tied up for sale at Gaya Street Sunday market in Kota Kinabalu, and its mother was being cut up in pieces for sale as meat. This kind of trauma is way beyond anyone’s imagination. Anyway, these baby bears grow up without mother and without a chance to suckle. However, suckling is an innate behavior. When the cub is hungry or feel uncomfortable, they suckle their mother’s breast. For these poor captive bears, they do not have their mother around, but the urge to suckle is very strong. So they learn to suckle on something handy. This “something handy” can be any part of their body like limbs, toes, or paws. More commonly was something that they can “latch on” like their own penis for male bears or vulva for female bears. If there are other young bears around, they may suck on each other’s ears. They always suckle on the same object or the same body part over and over again that later become their favorite suckling object.
The suckling behavior may progress to their adulthood if they are constantly under stress. It is consider as a kind of “stereotypic” behavior. I worked with a female sun bear named Batik. Batik was about 2 year old when I released her into the forest. During her life in captivity, she suckled her left hind feet constantly, especially when she feel stress or threat, to a point where there was a hairless, bare patch on her left feet leg. She was kept in a small cage when she sucked most. When she was reintroduce into the forest, her suckling behavior ceased thereafter. New hairs grew back from her bare patch on her left hind feet.
Every time I approached young captive bears, I mean every time, I always give them my finger to suckle. They all would responded the same way: suckled my finger, admitted the sound you heard from this video clip, and calmed down with comfort.
“How can anyone done such a cruelty to a helpless animal?”
“How can we not to do our best to help them?”
Tags: Bornean Bear Conservation Centre, BSBCC, Siew Te Wong, suckling, sun bear
The Enrichment for the Sun Bears Part II.
Category: BSBCC, captive diet, captivity, enrichment | Date: Aug 07 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
We have 12 bears in the centre. However, we only have 3 exercise enclosures. I am sure you might ask about those bears that were not in the exercise enclosures, what they would have for enrichment.
For those who are still waiting their turn to be released to the exercise enclosure, keepers will let them have others kind of enrichment. Ice lolly with fruits inside is every bear’s favorite especially during the hot day time. They will lick it, dig it with claws, rub it over their head and body, and some even bring it back to their sleeping basket and enjoy it!
Colorful ice lolly with fruits and vegetables for the bears! 
They spend time to dig out the fruits.
Thanks for Maria Trenary from Oakland Zoo as they have sent us some dozen of “Kong” toy. Kong is a very hard rubber toy that is specially made for animals to bite. You can put food inside it to make it more interesting and fun.
What our centre used to do is put in fruits like bananas, apples, dog food, honey, and sugar cane. Then we will put them into the refrigerator to make the food inside the Kong become harder and cool.
Keningau is using all her paws to get the food out of the “Kong” toy.
I have to tell you our bears love Kong. They will spend time to dig the food, and lick it until the very last bit of fruits with their long tongue! They are not let go the Kong even though they have finished the food inside. They just like to play with the empty Kong by throwing them like a baseball!
Other than that, we also hang tire in the bear cage. Tires are the bear’s toy that we can get free and it is durable. Our bears like to bite the tire, spin it, or even bang it on the wall! They also love to climb on it and swing themselves together with the tire.
You can tell that the bears like tires with this video above.
Om likes his tire very much and even sleeps with the tire.
In my opinion, a successful enrichment is something that can attract our bears to spend their times and make them feel like they are not kept in a cage. As a keeper, I know it is challenging, but it is so rewarding to see them enjoy the enrichment.
Tags: BSBCC, enrichment, kong toy, sun bear, sun bear toy, tire.
Cute sun bear cubs
Category: BSBCC, captivity, sanctuary | Date: Jun 06 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
Two endangered Bornean sun bear cubs have been introduced at the San Diego Zoo. The twin cubs were born at the zoo on Oct. 25 and made their public debut on last March 17. Read more about them at http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2009/03/19/endangered-bornean-sun-bear-cubs-make-public-debut-at-san-diego-zoo/.
The mother of the twins, Marcella, came from our facility at Sepilok, Sabah almost 10 years ago. She has been a good mother and produced few cubs since she moved to San Diego Zoo. All of the Bornean sun bears in US zoo were all originated from Sabah at Sepilok before we established Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. We hope they could be the ambassadors for their own kind in US to raise awareness and tell people across the world who came to see them in US’s zoos about their stories and plights.
Tags: conservation, cubs, sun bear
Sun Bear visits the dentist
Category: captivity | Date: Jun 05 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
As I was looking for materials to post on the blog, I found this video on Victoria the sun bear receiving dental treatment at Taronga Zoo, Sydney Australia. I thought it might be educational for people to see a sun bear and the process of “sun bear visit the dentist.” Enjoy!
Victoria the Sun Bear who was originally rescued by Free The Bears Fund (www.freethebears.org.au). This is an excerpt from “The Zoo” screening on Channel 7 last year.
Tags: dentist, sun bear, Taronga Zoo
THE SUN BEARS AT THE RARE SPECIES CONSERVATION CENTRE AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
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!
Moved into New Home!
Category: BSBCC, captivity, sanctuary | Date: Apr 16 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
31st March was a special day in BSBCC. Everybody was cheered up as we were waiting for this moment for months. That’s because we were going to moved three bears into the new bear cages! Please read http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2009/03/24/new-bear-cages-finally-done/.
Susie was the first bear who moved into the new cage. Elis, SOURC ranger, sedated Susie and then she has a medical checked by Dr Cecilia. According to Dr., Susie health was much better compare to the first day Susie arrive at BSBCC last August. Anybody can tell the different on its fur and coating, it’s more shining now!
Due to the shortage of bear cage, she was put into a 122 x 92 x 106cm cage for the last few months. However, now she can have a more spacious cage to stay and hang around! Nevertheless, she can go out to the exercise enclosure that full with dried leaves and branches!
Susie was kept in this small cage for several months while waiting the new bear cage to be finished. Susie also has a new neighbor, Kuamut. She was moved into the cage beside Susie. We hope that Kuamut will get used to her new home and neighbor very soon. Of course, she also can explore the exercise enclosure just like others. If you are our loyal reader, you will remember Kuamut was a pet before with two heavy chains on her neck. Please read story about Kuamut at http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/2009/02/18/kuamut-our-latest-rescued-sun-bear/.
The last bear we moved was Suria, the youngest in the centre. She was put into the cage beside Kuamut. For sure, Suria likes her new home very much. Suria was so keen on her cage and started to explore at every corner once she was recovered from the sedation. She even started to climb for the first time! However, we found out that her arm muscle was not strong enough, and need to depend on her teeth to grab on the bars. We are still optimist that Suria can build up her muscle and climbing skills very soon!
Susie was just recovered from the sedation in her new cage.
Susie is an elegant and healthy bear here.
Kuamut, is neighboring with Susie and Suria. We hope she can get used to the new environment very soon.
Suria was so excited in her new cage, and she even did not need time to get used to the new environment after sedation. She just wants to play and have fun!
After several hours climbing, breaking log and branches, Suria was exhausted and slept peacefully in her new sleeping basket for the first time. I can’t describe how happy when I saw these three bears were released into their new and more spacious cages. However, I still have to pray harder and hope that BSBCC new bear house can be started to build soon. That is because I know more bears are still keep in bad condition, in small and dirty cages without proper care of the their “owners”. I also hope the forest will stay healthy so that the sun bears will never lose their natural home.
By Wai Pak Ng
New bear cages- finally done!
Category: BSBCC, captivity, sanctuary | Date: Mar 24 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
The shortage of bear cages at BSBCC was a problem since last years after few more new bears were confiscated by the Sabah Wildlife Department. As the result, we have three sub-adult female bears (Anne, Jelita and Lawa) being put into a cage and share their sleeping baskets and living space. Although a bit crowded, they sure enjoy the companionship of each other.
While waiting for the state of the art bear houses to be built at the end of the year, more bears were sending to the centre. We have no option and no more space but to put three other bears in temporary cages were quite small. These bears were all cubs and yearling such as Suria, Susie, and the latest one, Kuamut.
We have been work hard to seek extra fund to add additional cages to the existing bear house. At last, the problem of fund was sort out and the construction of three cages with a roof was started to build on the 25th February 2009. The cages were built next to the Bemuda and Keningau’s exercise enclosure. The whole construction took 21 days to finish.
These three cages and the roof are cost RM10,000. The additional iron bars, feeding tray holders, sleeping baskets and the sliding doors cost another RM2,200. Finally, Suria, Susie, and Kuamut will move into their new home in few more days after the final inspection at the end of the week. I will update the story of these bears in their new temporary home by next week.
The 1st day 25/2/2009: Building materials were arrived at the bear centre. (140 iron bars and others iron frame and pipes).
The 3rd day 27/3/2009: Main frame work was done.
The 14th day 10/3/2009: Roof and the doors were installed. Iron bars also nearly finished welded. The outlooks of the cages were shown.
The 21st day 17/3/2009: Each cage has a sleeping basket.
The 21st day 17/3/2009: Construction was done and ready to let Suria, Susie and Kuamut to move in soon!
Endangered Bornean sun bear cubs make public debut at San Diego Zoo
Category: captivity | Date: Mar 19 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong
In this Monday, March 16 picture Pagi, right, a female Bornean sun bear cub whose name means “morning” in a Malayan dialect, licks her brother, Palu, who is named after a valley in Borneo, as they made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo. (AP/ San Diego Zoo)
Endangered Bornean sun bear cubs make public debut at San Diego Zoo
Associated Press Last update: March 16, 2009 - 8:38 PM
Last update: March 16, 2009 - 8:38 PM
SAN DIEGO - Two endangered Bornean sun bear cubs have been introduced at the San Diego Zoo.
The twin cubs were born at the zoo on Oct. 25 and made their public debut on Monday.
The zoo’s lead keeper Lisa Bryant says the cubs spent the day exploring their habitat, including scaling the exhibit’s climbing structures.
Bryant says Bornean sun bears are affectionately called “monkey bears” because they are the most arboreal bear species.
Bryant says the male is more reserved and his sister is more outgoing and curious.
The sun bear is the smallest of the world’s eight bear species, about half the size of the American black bear, according to the zoo’s Web site.
Tags: sun bear
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