The First Rescued Sun Bear 2017
In March 2017, two sun bear cubs were sent to BSBCC by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD). Kina (Rescue- 54), a one year old female and Sika (Rescue-55), a four months old female arrived at BSBCC from the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Kota Kinabalu. Both cubs were the first to arrive this year.
Two newly recued bears arrived at BSBCC
Prior to the arrival of Kina and Sika, Dr Nabila Sarkawi, a veterinarian from the Wildlife Rescue Unit performed a full medical checkup for both bears. Kina weighed 12.85kg and Sika weighed 4.8kg. They were both in a healthy, active and alert condition. Both will stay in the quarantine facility before moving in with the resident bears at the bear house. All newly rescued sun bears must undergo a quarantine period for a few weeks to enable the veterinarians can conduct an extensive health check and make sure these bears are in a good condition. Hopefully with the care we provide will help them to gain the skills they need to live in the wild again.
BSBCC team transferring the newly arrived sun bear out of the Sabah Wildlife Department vehicle
Kina
Kina was found at the Marak Parak village within the Kota Marudu district, northern
region of Sabah. She was named ‘Kina’, after the place she was rescued from, which was in Kinarut, Sabah. Her owner claimed that he saw Kina’s mother crossing the road. The mother bear was frightened and immediately ran away, leaving Kina behind. By then, Kina was just an infant. Hence, her owner took her and kept her for more than a year. He then decided to surrender her to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
There is a long way to go with hope that this is an eye opening on the start of a second chance and a better life
Sika
Sika was also named after the place where she was rescued from. She was found by a foreign volunteer at Sikalabaan village, in Pensiangan district, located in the interior division of Sabah. Pensiangan is one of the most rural areas in Sabah.
The volunteer had visited BSBCC before and was aware that it is illegal to keep sun bears as pets. He then reported to BSBCC after encountering Sika kept in a chicken mesh cage within the village. Sika was previously fed with a condense milk, fruits and cereal.
Kina is getting used to the sights and sound of her new surroundings
The arrival of these two new bears has brought us to a total number of 44 bears at our Centre. The increasing number of bears at our Centre will need continuous help and support to ensure these bears to have ample care at the facility.
Sun bears are “Totally Protected” species in Sabah under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. There is no reason for to keep sun bears as pets as these wild animals belong in the forest.
In fact, bear cubs need to spend the first 2 – 3 years of their lives learning survival skills from their mothers. Taking them away for pet trade will cause them to lose the learning opportunity they need to survive in the wild. Poaching and keeping them as a pet is an unforgivable act to this species.
Sika, with her beautiful chest mark
