Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Text by Gloria Ganang and photo by Tee Thye Lim

The BSBCC is on its way to construct its second bear house that will be able to occupy 16 bears. This new bear house will be surrounded by a 1.21 ha forest enclosure. However, some parts of the forest enclosure are swampy and have no trees for the bears to climb. How do we make use of the space? With the help of ideas from Arkitrek and hard work by the Raleigh International volunteers, our future enclosure is now equipped with a playground for the bears.

Check out these pictures!

Hanging bridge made out of reclaimed wood materials and fire hose

Making use of old tyres to walk on muddy ground

Now everyone can climb!

Perfect spot for sunbathing!

The Raleigh volunteer group who finalized the structures. You guys are awesome!

AMAZING!

The Raleigh International volunteers came from all over the world and gathered at this tropical island of Borneo to work on projects as this one. They worked with heavy tools and materials, tolerated with unpredictable weather, had countless leach bites under their socks and went back to their camp site muddy and tired everyday. However, they have done it for a good cause, which is to provided the bears with additional activities  in the enclosure. These structures can be utilized in many ways to enrich the bears. We are sure that any bear would instantly check out the structures as soon as they find it. Perhaps the roaming orang utan and macaques will do as well..or any of the BSBCC staff!

Million thanks from the BSBCC team to the volunteers! We hope you enjoyed working with us!

We would also like to thank Ian Hall, founder of Arkitrek who made this project possible. Not forgetting Arkitrek intern, Adam Brown for your dedication to guide the volunteers all the way until the end of this project.

Bear hugs to everybody!

Text and photos by Ade Kurniawan

In the past few weeks, the BSBCC has been quite fortunate to receive two different groups of volunteers (Raleigh and Camp Borneo) to help with several construction projects in the centre (designed and supervised by Arkitrek interns, Adam Leigh-Brown and Maryam Gomary). Not an easy task as both groups had to complete their projects while battling Borneo’s sweltering heat and sudden torrential rains. Not to mention the occasional pig-tail macaque and orang-utan harassment!

Adam (in black) and Maryam (in grey), the two Arkitrek interns

Raleigh

Another group arrived on the 22^nd July to continue the work done by the previous Alpha 4 group. To recap, the Raleigh volunteers have been focusing on the construction of several large enrichment structures which will be used in the future forest enclosure. Supervised by Adam and Raleigh project leaders, these volunteers spared no time and went straight to work!

Will be part of the playground for the bears!

Climbing post built by Matthew, David and Sabrina

Yes, they dont often get to pose for cameras

Working in funny smelling mud

Obligatory photo with Wong!

Camp Borneo

In the past several weeks, Camp Borneo (part of Camps International, an organization focusing on volunteerism via expeditions) has sent two groups to help construct a compost bin for the BSBCC. With all the food waste (unused parts of fruits, vegetables, etc) produced in the BSBCC kitchen, it became quite clear that such waste could be put to good use. On top of that, they were also tasked to build a boardwalk that would lead to the future forest enclosure. These two projects were designed and led by Maryam.

Building boardwalks

Laying the framework

Framework is partially up

Another obligatory photo with Wong!

Thanks guys!

Text by Siew Te Wong

The second phase of BSBCC developmental plan involves three components:

1) The upgrading of the access road to the 1st new bear house;

2) The access boardwalk from the car park all the way to the forest observation platform;

3) The forest observation platform where visitors can view sun bears in the natural enclosure.

These constructions were kindly funded by the Ministry of Tourism of the Malaysia Federal Malaysia Government (MOTOUR) via Sabah Wildlife Department. The construction begun last September 2011 and finally completed on May 2012. July 14th is a big day for BSBCC as the official handling over of the construction from the contractor to BSBCC and to the Sabah Wildlife Department. A little “ribbon cutting” ceremony was taken part on that day.  Md Jum Rafia, Deputy Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Md Sylvia Alsisto, the Superintendent of Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and myself who represent BSBCC cut the ribbon symbolized the completion of the construction project.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism (MOTUOR) for their kind support, Sabah Wildlife Department, Arkitek Summaz, Perunding Menara Sdn Bhd., Konsultant LCF, Dayana Enterprise, and Arkitrek for making this project possible. Together we make this project possible! Thank you all!    

The observation platform is sure a good place to view sun bears in their forest enclosure. Photo credit: Cede Prudente

Text and photo by Tee Thye Lim

We would like to express our millions of appreciation and special credits to the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia through the Sabah Wildlife Department, for providing us the funds to expand the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).

Now, we are pleased to announce the completion of our observation platform, elevated board walk that link the car park to the observation platform, and the access road to the bear house.

This construction project started on the 9^th Sept 2011, and it is now completed!
Click here to read about <We are getting there!>

The schematic diagram of BSBCC observation platform

The “Organic Bridge” which was built by Raleigh volunteers using reused iron wood that links up the elevated board walk and walking path to briefing area

The ground path which links visitors from “Organic Bridge” to the briefing area. You will find the sun bear’s chest mark pattern design along the walkway!

The staircase which links the briefing area to the “Organic Bridge”.

The access road to the new bear house!

The boardwalk to BSBCC observation platform is now completed!

Yes, we are almost reaching the new BSBCC observation platform.

Here we are! The BSBCC new observation platform!

From here, you will have the chance to observe the world's smallest bear species in their natural behavior and habitat.

Our new platform can hold a maximum capacity up to 40 visitors.

The BSBCC is expecting to be opened for the public by next year (2013), and we are looking forward to seeing you here soon!

And now our remaining task is to raise sufficient funds for the construction of:

1. The second bear house
2. Visitor briefing area
3. Renovation of office area
4. Bear holding area

The completion of these components is crucial for the success for BSBCC to achieve our missions which is to conserve sun bears through a combination of education, rehabilitation, research, and improve the welfare of captive orphaned sun bears!

Text and photos by Siew Te Wong

Thanks to the generous funding from the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia (MOTOUR http://www.motour.gov.my/ ) through Sabah Wildlife Department, 3 components in the developmental plans of BSBCC are almost complete after 5 months of construction. These 3 components are the:

1) Visitor Access Walkway from the Car Park

2) Observation Platform

3) The access road to the 1st new bear house and the Visitor Briefing Area.

Here are photos taken on Feb 27th.

As you can see, we are getting there!!

The elevated board walk from the car park to visitor briefing area is still under construction.

The elevated board walk from the car park to visitor briefing area is still under construction

The elevated board walk from the car park to visitor briefing area is still under construction

The ground path from the "organic bridge" to the visitor breifing area is done.

Ground path to the observation platform is under construction

Ground path to observation platform is almost done.

Almost done.

The boardwalk to the opservation platform is partially done.

The State of the Art observation plateform is almost done!

 After the completion of the first bear house and the forest enclosures one and a half year ago, Bornean Conservation Centre has been quiet down from major construction. The quietness is gone now as another phase of construction started few weeks ago. Thanks to the fund raising efforts from Sabah Wildlife Department, The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia has kindly provided us with funding to build the observation platform, the elevated board walk that link the car park to the observation platform, and to upgrade the access road to the bear house. The construction for this project will take six months and scheduled to be completed on March 2012. After completion of these constructions, we will start to prepare the education materials and displays, and get ready to welcome our first visitor on July next year.

 With the funding secured and the construction for the observation platform and the board walk in place, our remaining tusk is to raise sufficient funds to construct the second bear house, visitor briefing area, and renovation of the office area and the bear holding area. The completion of these components is crucial for the success for BSBCC to conserve sun bear through a combination of education, rehabilitation, research, and improve the welfare of captive orphaned sun bears.  

 Please help us spread the words and spread the loves to the sun bears. Please do what you do best to help us. We have come this far in our mission to conserve sun bear in many ways because of your supports and helps. And yes, we still need your help!

The schematic diagram of the observation platform at BSBCC. Visitors can view the sun bears in their natural surrounding from this platform. This is the location where "everyone can see sun bears in the forest" take place!

Translation on this notice board erected at the junction of Sepilok:
Project: Construction Project for Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sipilok, Sabah
Owner/Client: Sabah Wildlife Department (Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment)
Pay by: Ministry of Tourism Malaysia
Architect: Summaz Architect
Engineer: Perunding Menara Co. Ltd.
QS: Consultant LCF
Contractor: Dayana Enterprise
Date Construction Start: 09-09-2011 Date construction end: 09-03-2012

 

The current construction involves the building of the Observation Platform, Visitor access walkway from car park, and road to the bear house (yellow). We still need funding to build the Bear House 2 and Forest Enclosure 2, Visitor briefing area, and Bear Holding Area.