Sun bear exhibit at wildlife park upgraded for better public viewing
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the enhanced exhibit area is also designed to accommodate more sun bears in a spacious day stall area for public viewing.
'It aims to strengthen conservation efforts, educate the public, and raise awareness about the threats faced by this vulnerable species, particularly those related to wildlife crime,' he said at the launching ceremony today (April 27).
He said it timed perfectly with Malaysia's preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 where the sun bear has been chosen as the official mascot with the launch expected to boost local and international tourism.
It marks a major step forward in promoting conservation and improving animal welfare,' Mohd Soffian added.
He said the upgraded exhibit is the result of a successful collaboration between the Sabah Wildlife Department, Wild Welfare (WW), and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).
It features newly added enrichment structures and furniture designed to stimulate the sun bears' natural behaviours, creating a more dynamic and welfare-focused environment for the bears living in captivity at the wildlife park.
Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Dr Wong Siew Te, said sun bears are the smallest bear species in the world and are among the most threatened species, often falling victim to illegal wildlife trade.
'This exhibit not only provides a better living environment for the bears but also helps the public understand the urgent need for their conservation,' he said.
Simon Marsh, Operations Manager at Wild Welfare, said it is inspiring to see Lok Kawi Wildlife Park taking important steps to improve animal welfare.
Allowing sun bears to express their natural behaviour in captivity is crucial for their mental and physical well-being, he said.
He said Wild Welfare will continue to support the wildlife park by providing training and technical advice to assist further improvements at the park.
Currently, Lok Kawi Wildlife Park houses seven sun bears, three males and four females, most of which were rescued from illegal ownership or voluntarily surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Since 2015, the wildlife park has successfully rehabilitated and released 13 sun bears back into the wild, reinforcing its critical role as a rescue and rehabilitation centre.
The upgrading project, which began in January 2025 and concluded on April 24, 2025, cost RM230,000.
The improvements provide a more naturalistic, engaging environment for the bears, while offering visitors a closer and more meaningful experience with one of Malaysia's most iconic wildlife species.
The public can visit the newly upgraded Sun Bear Exhibit at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, which is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
6 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Early completion of SMK St Columba covered walkways brings cheer to school community
Ting (seated centre) flanked by Jimbun (right) and Rubin (left) with others giving the thumbs up to the completed project. MIRI (Aug 19): The construction of two covered walkways at SMK St Columba here has been completed ahead of schedule, bringing cheer to students and their parents. Deputy Minister of Tourism Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew said the RM100,000 project, carried out under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), was originally scheduled for completion on Aug 25 this year, but the contractor managed to finish it in July. 'This is very encouraging as the project was completed earlier than expected, and surely this will provide greater comfort to students and parents. 'For parents, picking up and dropping off their children to school will now be easier and more convenient, especially when it rains,' he told reporters during a site visit to the project this morning. According to Ting, the project was approved in 2023 and initially slated for implementation in 2024, but was slightly delayed and only carried out this year. It was successfully completed within four months after the contract was awarded. 'I am very grateful to the contractor, RJ Jaya Sdn Bhd, for completing the project ahead of schedule,' he added. He also expressed appreciation to the school and the Public Works Department (PWD) for their cooperation in ensuring smooth implementation of the project. 'This is indeed good news and I thank all parties involved. Today, we officially hand over this project to the school for use,' Ting said. Meanwhile, school principal Jimbun Masam expressed his gratitude, describing the project as very helpful to the school community, especially during rainy weather. 'The school greatly appreciates this contribution, as it truly benefits everyone. We are very thankful to Datuk Sebastian Ting for his concern towards the needs of this school,' he said. Also present were the school's senior adminstration assistant Ha Pick Yieng, senior assistant (student affairs) Charles Ling and RJ Jaya Sdn Bhd manager Rubin Hang. covered walkways lead Sebastian Ting SMK St Columba
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Disabled farmer finds success in aquaponics
A DISABLED man has turned adversity into innovation, running a successful aquaponics farm with knowledge he picked up online, Makkal Osai reported. K. Murugan built his aquaponics rigs to grow vegetables and fruits. He also created a food waste barrel that turns kitchen scraps into fertiliser. Despite numerous challenges, the 51-year-old from Johor also dedicates time to impart his knowledge by teaching schoolchildren about aquaponics and sustainable farming practices. The former excavator operator lost his right leg to an infection last year after working in the field for three decades. With encouragement from his wife, A. Kogilavani, he turned to farming, an interest sparked by watching online videos. The Johor Agriculture Department has recognised his efforts with 10 awards, including a gold medal at a competition. Murugan hopes to save enough to buy a sturdy hydraulic prosthetic leg, which costs about RM20,000. 'Working long hours on the farm is tough with crutches, and normal prosthetics are not suitable for this type of work,' he said. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
Laman MADANI In Mantin Provides Recreational Space For Over 30,000 Residents
NILAI, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- More than 30,000 residents in Mantin can now enjoy their own recreational space following the completion of Laman MADANI last March. State Local Government, Housing and Transport Development Action Committee chairman J. Arul Kumar said the project was driven by the community's need for a large-scale recreational area, which had been lacking compared to other districts. He added that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) allocated RM500,000 for the construction of Laman MADANI, while the pedestrian walkway, also costing RM500,000, was managed by the Seremban City Council (MBS).
