Bornean Sun Bear Conservation

Category: BSBCC, conservation, education | Date: Jul 08 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

By Wai Pak Ng

A group of master students majoring in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia visited BSBCC on 6th July 2009. Wai Pak gave them an introduction about Malayan sun bear, their conservation issues, and our centre concepts, mission and planning. They also have the chance to see how the bear having their enrichment program in the exercise enclosures.

They agreed that sun bear were not well known by our people. They were glad that BSBCC is not only will involve the rehabilitation work, but alsol emphasis on environment education to raise the public awareness on sun bears and the tropical rainforest.

BSBCC is happy to have more visitors from universities as well as other institutions. Even though we have do not have our facilities properly built, we are trying our best to explain to our visitors about our very unique sun bears, their situation and their threats.

Tags: education, Research, sun bear

2 responses so far

Category: BSBCC, conservation, education | Date: Jul 06 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

By Wai Pak Ng

On July 2, Sylvia Alsisto from Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre came and asked me to present a talk about sun bear and BSBCC. Of course I am more than happy to do that as I had done that to several groups of volunteer. However, it ended up with a three-day talk to three groups of students. The most challenging part was the audience was ranged from 8 – 17 years old school kids! I have to tell you that the first image that bangs into my minds was a group of “monkey” yelling and jumping here and there!

They were our special guests. 

I was only given a night to prepare the presentation. I have to modified and practice my speech so that the kids won’t get bored with all the science facts and terms. I also invited two guests to my talk who were Winnie and Teddy (toys that I borrowed from Cecilia)! With two of them, I started my introduction and I managed to grab the audience attention!

Participants from the YAWA 6^th International Children’s Conference on the Environment were listen to the sun bears talk at Sepilok.  

The presentation was going smooth. I was pleased as they were no “monkey” in the theatre. In fact, most of the kids were paying their full attention! During the Q and A session, questions raised and I was surprised with a kid who asked: Can we put on artificial claws to those de-claws-bears? I was sad to tell the kids the truth, No, we can not. In fact, their enthusiasms really impress me because these children were really care about our bears! I am sure they will be those who can change the situation. 

Questions were asked during the Q and A session. You can tell they want to know more about sun bear and want to help them. 

After the talk, I brought the kids to have a closer look of our sun bears. They even have the chance to sit inside a small iron cage where Susie the bear was kept before. To them, it was also a new experience and opportunity to create their empathy, and get to understand our very own local wildlife, our sun bear situation and their plight.   

One of the kids told me: It was fun to sit in the cage, but not all the time, not even more than a minute! She wants freedom and she knows the bears do as well.

I think they will definitely understand what space really mean. 

By giving this presentation, I have learnt so much from the kids. It reminds me the important of environment education to our young generation as well as other elders. Again, let hope our centre can be set up earlier, so that the public can know more about our bears and love our wildlife and their environment. Notes: YAWA 6^th International Children’s Conference on the Environment were organized by Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam, (Children’s Environmental Heritage Foundation) and Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN), at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok, from 1^st – 5^th June 2009.

Tags: BSBCC, conservation, education, sun bear

4 responses so far

Category: BSBCC, education | Date: Jun 16 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

By Wai Pak Ng~

Last April, a group of post grad students from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) visited to our centre to learn more about sun bears conservation, research and management. One month later, two UPM vet students also chosen BSBCC as a place to carry out their practical training.  Mellissa Aw and Lim Seik Ni are the fourth year vet student. During their three week practical in BSBCC and Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, they were assigned to various jobs and duties from preparing the food, cleaning the cages, helping out in the clinic, to making a new cement floor for the bear!  

I am glad to hear from Mellissa one evening where she said: “no doubt working at the bear centre is tiring, but I enjoy it very much”. Yes, as a keeper, I understand that there are nothing can be so rewarding to see your animals have a pleasant and comfortable place to stay and enjoy their toys or enrichment. We all reckon their hard work in our centre and really appreciate their care to the bears. 

At last, BSBCC hopes that both Seik Ni and Mellissa had learnt something, gained their experience and share with their friends when they go back to UPM. BSBCC would also like to wish them have a very successful future.

Mellissa and WaiPak were preparing food for our bears.

Tags: education, student, sun bear, UPM

2 responses so far