The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 Vol.3, No.6 STAFF ACHIEVEMENT BSBCC FOUNDER AND CEO RECEIVES USC HONORARY DOCTORATE O n the 29 th September 2016, Dr. Wong Siew Te Founder and CEO at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre received the Honorary Doctorate award at University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) graduation ceremony. Wong studied wildlife biology at University of Montana and spends most of his time in Southeast Asia doing research and conservation work to raise awareness of threatened species. In 2008, he founded Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah. Dr. Wong Siew Te has been conferred the USC Honorary Doctorate because of his passion and countless efforts towards wildlife conservation, which contributed outstanding services in his conservation work. Dr. Wong said USC students had played an important role in BSBCC achievements. We hope that the partnership between USC and BSBCC can continue to benefit both institutions. Inside this issue: Staff Achievement Bear Story Educational Activities Volunteers & Interns Volunteer stories BSBCC Adoption Programme BSBCC in the News Bear Shop Donors and Contributors 1 2 6 12 13 15 16 18 19 BSBCC Founder and CEO, Wong Siew Te received his Honorary Doctorate award during the USC graduation ceremony.
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The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 Vol.3, No.6
STAFF ACHIEVEMENT
BSBCC FOUNDER AND CEO RECEIVES USC HONORARY
DOCTORATE
O n the 29th September 2016, Dr. Wong
Siew Te Founder and CEO at Bornean
Sun Bear Conservation Centre received the
Honorary Doctorate award at University
of the Sunshine Coast (USC) graduation
ceremony.
Wong studied wildlife biology at
University of Montana and spends most of
his time in Southeast Asia doing research
and conservation work to raise awareness of
threatened species. In 2008, he founded
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
(BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah.
Dr. Wong Siew Te has been conferred the
USC Honorary Doctorate because of his
passion and countless efforts towards
wildlife conservation, which contributed
outstanding services in his conservation
work. Dr. Wong said USC students had
played an important role in BSBCC
achievements. We hope that the partnership
between USC and BSBCC can continue to
benefit both institutions.
Inside this issue:
Staff Achievement
Bear Story
Educational Activities
Volunteers & Interns
Volunteer stories
BSBCC Adoption Programme
BSBCC in the News
Bear Shop
Donors and Contributors
1
2
6
12
13
15
16
18
19
BSBCC Founder and CEO, Wong Siew Te received his Honorary Doctorate award during the USC graduation ceremony.
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 2
Noah, a five months old male sun bear was
sent to the Bornean Sun Bear
Conservation Centre (BSBCC) by Sabah
Wildlife Department (SWD) and was marked
as Rescue-52 for BSBCC. Noah was handed
over to SWD from Nabawan, southern part of
Sabah. He was found roaming alone near the
villager‟s orchard without his mother beside
him. At first the villagers thought it was a
puppy, but after a closer peek they found out
it was a sun bear cub.
On the 10th September 2016, Dr. Symphorosa
Sipangkui, veterinarian from SWD,
transported Noah to BSBCC, Sepilok, at 12.30
pm, he weighed 8.6kg. Dr. Pakeeyaraj
Nagalingam, vet from the Wildlife Rescue Unit
(WRU) of SWD performed a general health
check on Noah along with the BSBCC team.
This included an assessment of his overall
health including potential sickness,
functionality of internal organs and his
physical condition.
During the health check, it was found that
Noah‟s four milk canines had been crushed
off. We suspected this was because his
previous owner have the intention to further
keep him as a pet. This is common with
captive sun bears to prevent them from
causing injuries and to make them easy to
handle. Their small size and cuddly
appearance makes the sun bears key assets
in the illegal pet trade. As a Pet, Noah
suffered from loneliness, rotting teeth,
and malnutrition due to his improper
diet and lack of care. Little Noah nearly lost
everything–just because someone was
greedy.
During rescue operations, it is common to
hear that the sun bears were held captive
because they were abandoned by their
mothers or found roaming alone. But
Noah's history remains unknown.
There is a high possibility that Noah‟s
mother was poached and sold for bear
parts, most commonly used in traditional
medicines. Naturally, sun bear cubs stay
with their mothers till at least two or three
years old in order to learn key survival
skills. Sun bears are listed as a totally
protected species in Sabah Wildlife
Conservation Enactment 1997. In Malaysia,
offenders can be jailed up to 10 years and
fined up to RM250,000.
BEAR STORY
MEET NOAH—THERE IS STILL HOPE !!
Noah, one of our newest orphan arrivals at BSBCC.
Dr. Pakee performing a health check on Noah.
Noah’s dental condition (four milk canines had been crushed off).
Now, Noah will go through quarantine and
will receive round the clock care from
BSBCC‟s bear care unit. Thankfully, Noah
was rescued and gets a second chance in
life. We hope he will gain strength and be
able to be released back to the rainforest of
Borneo. Noah is responding well to
his treatment. He has been receiving
a proper diet and has a big appetite which
has increased his body weight. He absolutely
loves milk, bananas, papaya and
honey and usually eats them all at a
time. Noah spends hours trying his best to
get every drop of delicious honey out of the
enrichment logs.
As soon as he smells the food, he will quickly
descend to find it. He will get involved in
various types of enrichment to strengthen
his muscles and senses. He is also
mischievous and enjoys to wrestle with his
care taker. Noah continues to be as playful
as ever!!
One of the BSBCC's missions is to give
rescued bears lifelong loving care. We
introduce bears into their natural habitat. A
big thanks to the Sabah Wildlife Department
who rescued and brought Noah to BSBCC.
We will provide the best care possible through
the rehabilitation process, so someday he can
return to the wild. After completing the
quarantine phase, Noah will embark on his
new life. Little Noah will follow a process
of gradual adaptation in the forest till
he becomes an independent wild bear, then
he will get this chance to return to the forest
home he was once stolen from. We will take
all appropriate steps to ensure that Noah
makes a smooth transition into life as a wild
sun bear.
We are confident that he will continue to
practice the skills needed to survive as a wild
sun bear in the future. Noah will spend his
days learning new and vital skills in the forest
canopy. We cannot wait for the day when
Noah is roaming free back in the forest where
he belongs.
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 3
Three weeks after his rescue little Noah grows into a healthy and strong bear.
Noah learning to defend himself by playing fight with his ‘surrogate mother’.
Noah has adjusted well to proper milk.
Tasting fruits for first time!
Both Wawa and Dodop have been growing
well in quarantine. Finally, it is time for
them to meet their big brothers and sisters
in the bear house. But first, they had to
undergo a general health check by Dr.
Pakeeyaraj Nagalingam, a veterinarian from
Sabah Wildlife Department, Wildlife Rescue
Unit. Both of them had been proven
healthy. Their new friends could not wait to
meet them and gave their greatest
welcoming bark.
Before Dodop and Wawa moved to the bear
house, the bear keepers prepared a lot of
enrichment for them. Not only did they built
a platform and a hammock to provide them
a resting place, but they also went to collect
dry leaves and decayed wood.
Wawa is an 11 months old female bear. She
was found alone in the Forest Management
Unit (FMU) 16, Pinangah, Telupid District on
March 11th, 2016. She was surrendered to the
Sabah Wildlife Department and sent to the Lok
Kawi Wildlife Park in Kota Kinabalu. She
arrived BSBCC on March 18th, 2016. She
appeared weak and showed signs of
dehydration when she arrived.
Dodop, a one year old female bear came to the
BSBCC on June 2nd, 2016. Sabah Wildlife
Department rescued her from being kept as
house pet at Singgaron village, Ranau
district. Her milk teeth has fallen off when she
first arrived. Now, her strong and sharp
permanent teeth has grown and Dodop is
ready for the wild!
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 4
BEAR STORY
MEETING BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE BEAR HOUSE
Wawa
Dodop Dr. Pakee sedating Dodop and Wawa for their health check.
The next step in their rehabilitation process
is to integrate them with the sub adult
group-Sunbearo, Loki, Bintang, Montom,
Susie2, Damai, Kala, Boboi, Kitud, Tan Tan
and Mary. Their ages are around one to five
years old. After the integration, they have
to undergo fence training before
they will be released back into the forest
enclosure. This is where they can learn from
the other bears and improve their survival
skills. We hope they will have the chance to
return to the wild sooner or later within the
rehabilitation program at the BSBCC in the
future.
Wawa loves to spend her time with different
enrichments, so the bear keepers placed
numerous kinds of enrichment items inside the
cages to help them adapt to their new
environment. During Wawa‟s first day, she
seemed alert to her surroundings. But thanks
to the enrichments, she adapted well into the
bear house after the second day. Both Wawa
and Dodop spent most of their time exploring
their new environment and the enrichments
together.
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 5
Bear keepers, Azzry and Thye Lim moving the bears from the quarantine to the bear house.
Within the cage, bear keepers put some dry leaves and ginger leaves for Dodop and Wawa.
Dodop looking curious and calm when she encountered her new environment.
After a few days, Dodop (left) and Wawa (right) adapted in their new environment. They played fight inside the cage with each other.
W e welcome all school visits and
organisations to our Centre. On the
3rd September 2016, we received our first
school visit of the month. A group of
kindergarten kids from Tadika Al-Hakim,
Sandakan came to our Centre together with
their parents and teachers. A total of 608
people from different schools and
organisations visited our Centre from
September to October 2016.
Both students and teachers were given a
short introduction on sun bears by one of
our Education Team members and later
they were brought to the observation
platforms to see the bears roaming in the
forest enclosure. The children together with
their parents and teachers enjoyed their
time at our Centre learning about sun bears
and the environment. We were glad to
share our knowledge on sun bears with
them as we believe that environmental
education can connect us to the world
around us. As well as this, it can help us
explore environmental issues and most
importantly take action to improve the
environment.
BSBCC education team has been sharing their
knowledge on sun bears for the past four
years. Not only to kindergarten children but
also to senior citizens, locals and
foreigners.
School / Group No. Pax Date
Tadika Al-Hakim
Sandakan
52 3rd Sept
SMK ST. Cecilia
Sandakan
70 10th Sept
Tadika Jaya Baru
95 22nd Sept
Sandakan Vocational
College
46 4th Oct
SMK Pamol, Beluran
34 7th Oct
Tabika Kemas ILP
Sandakan
60 8th Oct
Tadika Kg. Paris
65 10th Oct
APE Malaysia (Hong
Kong International
school)
26 18th Oct
SMK Nambayan,
Tambunan
14
20th Oct
Sunday School
Teachers, Lahad Datu
16 22nd Oct
SMK Kunak Jaya,
Kunak
39 23th Oct
Tadika SK. Merpati 47 27th Oct
UMS Marketing Club 44 29th Oct
Table 1: List of schools visited in September
and October 2016.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 6
Ms. Risnayati (Educational Officer), explaining about eight bear species.
Interactive students while Ms. Gloria (Educational Executive) deliver her talk on Sun Bears.
Group photo session with Tadika ILP Sandakan.
We were very happy to have chance to
share the interesting facts about our wildlife
to the students! All of the students enjoyed
their time learning about the environment
and wildlife species through exhibitions. We
hope that they can gain more knowledge on
the importance of protecting the
environment and our precious wildlife
species. A big thank you to SK Bandar
primary school for inviting us.
B SBCC received an invitation to join the
Pre-school Education Carnival in SK
Bandar Sandakan on 8th October 2016.
Approximately 600 students and 300 teachers
from all schools in Sandakan have joined in
this Carnival. The students were excited and
eager to learn more about the sun
bears. BSBCC team set up display booths at
the school. This helped to share our stories
about wildlife even better, especially for the
students to understand more about the
importance to conserve them.
Our sun bear mascot, Sunny was also present
to help the kids understand about the physical
characteristics of a sun bear.
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 7
OUTREACH PROGRAMME - SK BANDAR SANDAKAN
Ms. Risnayati interacting with the parents at BSBCC education booths.
Students were keen to learn about sun bear.
Parents were also interested learning about sun bear. Sun bear mascot.
T he Borneo Bird Festival was back again
this year at the Rainforest Discovery
Centre, Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah from the
15th to 17th September 2016. This event
was jointly organized by Sandakan Borneo
Bird Club and Sabah Forestry Department,
and was launched by Guest of Honor YB
Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, the
Minister of Tourism, Culture and
Environment Sabah.
This festival is a celebration of the
magnificent birds of Borneo and aims to
create public awareness of bird
conservation, to promote bird watching and
enhance eco-tourism activities.
Various exhibitors also took part in this
festival such as us The Bornean Sun Bear
Conservation Centre, Sabah Wildlife
Department, Sabah Parks, Sepilok Junior
Rangers, Sabah Foundation, Wild Bird Club of
Phillipines, Leica, Nikon Malaysia, Canon
Malaysia, and others. BSBCC team set up
educational booths to help people learn more
about sun bears and to make people aware of
the ways our activities impact these animals.
We also prepared sun bear masks for the
children to colour at the booth– they were
excited to join the coloring activity!
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 8
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
8TH BORNEO BIRD FESTIVAL 2016
Welcoming Speech by Mr. Cede Prudente, Sandakan Borneo Bird Club Sabah.
VIPs visiting our exhibition booth.
Colouring activity for children at our booth.
Sun bear masks.
A workshop and launching ceremony
on ‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ or „Friends of
Sun Bear‟ programme for Sabah region
was held on the 8th and 9th of September
2016 at Felda Residence Sahabat, Lahad
Datu, Sabah.
This programme was organized by
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and
FELDA Global Venture (FGV).
The objectives of this programme was to give
opportunities to the FELDA communities and
public to take part in wildlife conservation and
works related to wildlife conservation in
Malaysia. Also, to create awareness on sun
bears as one of the endangered species and to
mobilize community to help government in the
efforts of wildlife management in
Malaysia, especially in FELDA plantations.
‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ programme is a 5
years project collaboration between Felda
Global Ventures Holdings Sdn. Bhd (FGV),
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Department of
Wildlife & National Parks Peninsular Malaysia
(PERHILITAN), and Universiti Kebangsaan
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 9
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
WORKSHOP AND LAUNCHING CEREMONY ON ‘SAHABAT BERUANG MADU’ PROGRAMME, SABAH REGION
Welcoming speech from Mr. Alberto Domingo, Ketua Perladangan Zon Sabah 2 FGV PM.
Group discussion.
Workshop and launching ceremony on ‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ Programme.
Mr. K. Ilangovan delivering his talk on Sustainable Palm Oil Production Initiatives in FELDA Global Venture Holdings, FGVH
BSBCC’s representative, Thye Lim presenting a talk on sun bears
This programme was attended by project
managers, staff, workers and school
teachers in FELDA area. We were glad to be
invited to this programme to share BSBCC‟s
roles and efforts in sun bear conservation in
Sabah. Several talks from FGV, MNS and
BSBCC were delivered during this two days
programme.
Besides that, brainstorming activities in
groups were also conducted for the
participants.
At the end of this programme, two
committees (main committee and working
committee) had been formed for
the ‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ Project for
Sabah Region.
This committee will act to „Sahabat Beruang
Madu‟ Programme for Sabah Region officially
launched! Organize and mobilize activities
for ‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ programme in the
region such as awareness campaigns,
trainings, visits, exhibitions, meetings,
fundraisings, monitoring and networking.
Million thanks to FGV and MNS for inviting
BSBCC to be part of this programme and help
in sun bear conservation. We hope that more
efforts can be done in the future to help the
smallest bear species in the world and help us
spread the word of this beautiful animal.
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 10
‘Sahabat Beruang Madu’ Programme for Sabah Region officially launched!
Presenting token of appreciation to BSBCC.
Group photo session.
Brainstorming activities.
O n the 2nd of September, BSBCC
started the day with big preparations
for the Environmental Education Race (EE
Race) activity at the Centre. The EE Race is
an environmental education programme
held annually in the heart of Borneo
districts of Sabah. It is organized by the
Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) under
the Sabah Forestry Department, together
with many government and private
organizations.
The aim of the race is to enhance and
deepen teacher's knowledge and
experiences on the environment. The
course, features 80% outdoor activities,
participant-centered learning, group effort
and interesting environment-related
assignments.
When registering for an EE Race, all
participants do not have any idea of what they
are about to learn or where they are
going! The first activity was the “Bear Acting”
activity where the participants were placed in
mini cages as display animals. The BSBCC staff
acted as visitors, taking pictures with camera
flashes from outside the cages. The purpose of
this activity is to allow the participants to
experience what it feels like to be badly treated
by people who visit displayed animals.
Later, the participants shared their experience
to everyone. The next activity was preparing
“toys” or enrichment for the bears. The
participants were given various materials such
as bamboo, ginger leaves, ropes, honey,
peanut butter and many kinds of spices. They
were encouraged to use their creativity to
construct "toys" for the bears. They produced
great enrichment and the bears loved it! The
participants continued with the tour around the
centre. This focuses more on sun bear ecology
and the aims of BSBCC as a conservation and
rehabilitation centre for sun bears in Sabah.
Since sun bears are the “least known” species
among the bears in the world, describing the
sun bear facts to the participants are fresh and
fascinating. We hope the participants enjoyed
their activities at BSBCC. We are looking
forward for more exciting activities on next EE
Race!
The Sun Bear Voice Nov/Dec 2016 vol.3, no.6 11
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RACE
Mr. Wong welcomed the participants, facilitators and observer.
Participants reading through their assignment task.
EE Race participants inside the cage.
VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS
B SBCC currently houses 41
rescued sun bears in our two
bear houses and a quarantine
facility. Each day, the ex-captive
sun bears need to be filled with
ample food and activities that can
stimulate healthy bear behavior.
Volunteers and interns help our
keepers achieve our goals in looking
after the welfare of these bears and
helping them in their rehabilitation
process.
BSBCC Volunteer Programme
The BSBCC volunteer programme
conducted in collaboration with APE
Malaysia ran throughout July and
August 2016. Volunteers in this
programme were supervised by
BSBCC staff with some great
assistance by the APE Malaysia
team. Besides helping the keepers
in caring for the bears at the
Centre, volunteers also helped to
spread awareness on the plights of
sun bears among visitors through
the education booth at our visitor
centre. During July and August
2016, a total of 26 individuals
volunteered at our Centre.
Internship at BSBCC
BSBCC welcomes students from
local and international institutions to
conduct their internship at the
Centre. Interns will have the
opportunity to learn about
the rehabilitation of ex-captive sun
bears. Interns will also be exposed
to the importance of bear
enrichment and cleanliness of the
facility. Besides this, they will also
have the chance to learn about the
behavior of this little known species.
Table 2: List of volunteers in September and October.
Name Volunteer
/Interns
Country Duration
Amanda
Redman
Volunteer UK 6th Sept –
3rd Oct
Bats group
Albert Park
College
Volunteer Australia 11th Sept-
14th Sept
Thong Wai
Keen
Volunteer Malaysia 27th Oct –
14th Nov
Bats Group
QE
(Outlook
Expedition)
Team 1
Volunteer UK 18th Oct -
23rd Oct
Bats Group
QE
(Outlook
Expedition)
Team 2
Volunteer UK 22nd Oct -
26th
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