Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
| Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre | |
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 BSBCC
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| Location | Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Nearest city | Sandakan |
| Coordinates | 5°51′49″N 117°57′0″E / 5.86361°N 117.95000°ECoordinates: 5°51′49″N 117°57′0″E / 5.86361°N 117.95000°E |
| Area | 2,5 ha |
| Established | 2008 |
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The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is a wildlife conservation and research centre for improving animal welfare and rehabilitation of the Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). It also aims to raise public awareness about the plight of the sun bears and to raise conservation awareness about this species.
The BSBCC was established as a non-profit organisation in Sabah in 2008. It is a joint project between sun bear researcher Wong Siew Te, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD).
The BSBCC is neighboured to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok and shares veterinary facilities, personnel, parking, access roads and ticket gates.
Seeing sun bears kept in dreadful conditions during his study drove the wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te on a quest to open a facility to improve their welfare.
In 2004, I received a grant to do a survey of captive sun bears in the country and I found most to be kept in a deplorable manner, with no proper monitoring and care. After seeing bears in such a bad state, I cannot turn a blind eye to them. I simply cannot. I saw a need to do for sun bears what the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan was doing – housing rescued orang utans in a proper manner and rehabilitating them for future release back to the wild.
The search for a suitable place unlocked a 2.5 ha site within the 42 km2 Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve. The area is adjacent to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and once housed a Sumatran rhinoceros captive breeding programme which stopped in 2006 after the death of the last male rhino there.
The BSBCC started in 2008 with taking over the responsibility of seven captive bears under the care of Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
In March 2010, the first phase of the structural development of the centre culminated in the opening of a new 20-bear house and outdoor enclosures in the Sepilok Forest Reserve. In April 2010, the existing captive bears were moved into their new living spaces, integrated into 'bear groups' and given access to outdoor enclosures during the day.
A second phase of the project started in September 2010 with the goal to convert the old bear house into offices, a visitor centre and gift shop. It also included the establishment of a quarantine area for up to 10 bears, as well as construction of a new viewing platform and refurbishment of existing boardwalks and trails on the site.
By June 2014, the number of sun bears in the centre has increased to 33. Future developments will involve construction of a second bear house and forested enclosures with capacity for 20 additional bears.
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Wikipedia