Sun Bears need bigger home.

Nation

June 29, 2013

By : OLIVIA MIWIL | olivia@nst.com.my

Sun bears need bigger home

RM500,000 GOAL: Centre hopes to get enough money from fundraising dinner for second enclosure

SANDAKAN: THE Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre  aims to raise another RM500,000 for its operations and  build a second enclosure  for the animals.

Its chief executive officer and founder, Wong Siew Te, said it was the only facility in the world involved in rescuing, educating, researching and rehabilitating the species.

"The centre provides care to sun bears and the chance for them to experience what it is like to live in the forest as it has a natural forest within an enclosed area."

The centre is supported by the Tourism Ministry, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Sime Darby Foundation and several foreign organisations and zoos in the United States.

The sun bear is the smallest of the world's eight bear species and is found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra and Borneo.

The animal has been classified as "vulnerable" on The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

It is also classified as a "totally protected species" under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, which is the same status as the orang utan and Sumatran rhinoceros.

Wong said prior to the setting up of the centre, sun bears were kept illegally as pets and those that were confiscated were housed in a government facility.

The centre rescued and housed seven sun bears in 2008.

The number has increased to 28 today.

"We need a second enclosure to accommodate the sun bears.

"The management is also looking to build a visitor centre and educational exhibits before the centre is officially opened to the public early next year."

The facility, located next to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, has an observation platform and boardwalk.

Wong hoped that the centre could raise the funds at its fundraising dinner at the Hakka Hall here on July 20.

The performers who have been lined up for the event include Jaclyn Victor, Gary Chaw @ Cao Ge, Pink Tan and Amir Yussof and Friends.

"We appeal to Malaysians, especially the Sandakan business community, to support this event.

"Attendees will be able to better understand the significance of sun bears and the types of threats that this species faces."

For more information on the event, visit the centre's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sunbear.bsbcc.