By Olivia Miwil - January 2, 2024 @ 2:42pm
SANDAKAN: The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) has seen an influx of tourists from all over the world, according to its founder and CEO, Dr Wong Siew.
"In 2023, 77,426 visitors visited BSBCC, among them 49,814 were foreign tourists.
"Even more encouraging, the visitor numbers in 2023 exceeded the pre-Covid year of 2019.
"This surge in the number of visitors has given us hope as BSBCC has been heavily dependent on revenue generated from ticketing and souvenir selling since we opened to the public in 2014," he said in its New Year's message.
Wong added that the centre had experienced a very challenging three years between 2020 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
However, it managed to survive with financial support from Sime Darby Foundation, Hasanah Foundation, and Paradise Wildlife Park, among others.
On the recent development, the centre had received two cubs, Tenom and Kwong, rescued by the Sabah Wildlife department.
"The rescue of Tenom has led us to kick-start the Tabin Sun Bear Project in August 2023 by establishing a forest camp for the soon-to-be Tenom's rehabilitation programme and long-term ecological research on wild sun bears in Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
"Tabin Sun Bear Project is a long-term field-based programme for rehabilitation, research, and anti-poaching.
"This satellite project of BSBCC will surely increase our ability to conduct sun bear rehabilitation and the understanding of wild sun bears."
Wong also said that the centre is expected to launch the new Gelugob bridge at the entrance on Jan 16 in conjunction with its 10th anniversary of opening to the public.
He added that there were plans to construct an entrance foyer, upgrade the old ironwood fences of Pen B, Pen C, and Pen D as well as to fundraise to build a third observation platform, a new Interpretation Centre and an office building.
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