Free as a bear: Rehabilitated sun bear 'Montom' released into wild

By Olivia Miwil - July 12, 2020 @ 9:33am

SANDAKAN: A male sun bear has been released into the wild after five years of rehabilitation.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre spokesperson Seng Yen Wah said the 6-year-old mammal named "Montom" is the eighth to be released from the centre.

"After five years of rehabilitation, Montom developed excellent forest survival skills.

"He had proven that he was ready to be reintroduced into the wild," read a post on the centre's Facebook page.

Montom was rescued from Kampung Melangkap, Kota Marudu on Jan 8, 2015.

He had been taken and kept by a villager after a dog chased away his mother when he was still a cub.

Montom was kept as a pet in a chicken wire mesh cage and fed human food for a year before he came to the centre on Jan 21, 2015.

"On July 9, 2020, at 5pm, the bear release team and Montom left for an eight-hour journey to the northern part of Sabah, and a four-hour off-road journey to the release site.

"This release operation was more challenging than any other release operation. The forest is mostly hilly with steep slopes and ridges," Seng said, adding that once the door opened, Montom ran into the forest and disappeared into the woods.

The centre thanked the Sabah Forestry Department, the Sabah Wildlife Department and everyone who had provided support and assistance in the release.

There are still 42 rescued sun bears at the centre.