Life In Borneo

Posted by Daniel on November 12th, 2008 in Announcement, Wildlife

An array of Malaysia’s best-known musicians, television and film icons will come together for one night to raise funds for the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, to be established at Sepilok, Sandakan. Aptly named ‘Bear Necessities’, this fundraising event will be held at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa on Friday 14th November 2008 at 6.30pm.

The Malayan Sun Bear

Borneo is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, where some of them are unique to the forest of Borneo. The Malayan Sun Bear is one such animal. The sun bear is the smallest of the world’s eight bear species, about 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length. Its name comes from the orange-yellowish marking on its chest, which looks like a crescent-shaped sun. It has short and sleek fur, unlike other members of the bear species, and dark black or brown-black in colour. The sun bear is also an excellent climber - it has large paws with hairless soles and long claws that help them move about with ease high up in trees.

A threatened species

The Malayan Sun Bear was once widespread throughout Southeast Asia, but now its home is fast diminishing. Sabah is one of the last few places where this animal can still be found in the wild. It is under constant threat, its natural habitat in the wild disappearing from forest degradation. They are also illegally hunted for food and for medicines. They clash with human settlements at times and are often shot to prevent damage to crops. The sun bears are also victims to poaching, captured as small cubs for the pet trade.

Under the Sabah Wildlife Enactment, the Malayan Sun Bears are a classified as Totally Protected Species, and keeping or killing bears or selling bear parts is illegal.

The Mission

The goal is to raise RM1.2 million so construction can begin on the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which will be located adjacent to the world famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre near Sandakan.The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre aims to provide a holistic approach to Sun Bear conservation, combining improved facilities for captive bears with increased public awareness both locally and internationally, and perhaps most importantly, release back into the wild of bears which can be rehabilitated. The confiscated and orphaned sun bears are currently kept in small cages with no access to outdoor areas. The Centre will provide the bears, of which 11 are presently kept in Sepilok, with an enriched environment, natural forest enclosures and improved welfare. There will also be much needed interpretation and education facilities for visitors.

As of yet, there is no facility in Sabah to house the growing number of bears which are confiscated by Sabah Wildlife Department from captivity or rescued as orphans.

Based on the theme ‘Sun Bears and the Rainforest’, the Bear Necessities evening promises to be an extraordinary one, combining compelling conservation messages with music, comedy, bear stories, art and rare video footage of Sun Bears in the wild, as well as a Sun Bear-themed live auction of specially commissioned or donated artwork. The overwhelming support forthcoming from some of Malaysia’s most dynamic, talented and environmentally-aware artistes shows that there is a growing commitment from young Malaysians to conserve and cherish our natural heritage. The hope is that Sun Bears may become another flagship species for Sabah and Malaysia, representing and highlighting the crucial need for wildlife and habitat protection.

The Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman will be the Guest of Honour for the night which is being hosted by Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and the NGO LEAP. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun will also be attending together with Kota Kinabalu City Major Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim and international donors.

An MoU on the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre will be signed by Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and LEAP on the night, witnessed by the Sabah Chief Minister.

Tables are priced at RM50,000 (10 tables); RM30,000 (10 tables);RM20,000 (10 tables) and Rm10,000 (20 tables). Buyers of the RM50,000 tables get one seat at the top table. The event is co-sponsored by Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa and all proceeds go to the Bornean Sun Bear Trust Fund.

In our next article, we will bring you the interview of Wong Siew Te, co-chair to the Sun Bear Expert Team for the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group(2002-2005) & Cynthia Ong, Executive Director of LEAP and a Director of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.

For more information on the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre or the Bear Necessities Event, please contact:
Tel: 088 270705 / 012 8281705 and Email: info@leapspiral.org

* Source: Press Release of the Bear Necessities Fundraising Event

* images from: http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/

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