World's smallest bears get bigger time in the sun

The Star

17-05-2025

New look: The revamped exhibit is also able to accommodate more sun bears in a spacious day stall area, where the public can witness their charm up close.
KOTA KINABALU: The world's smallest bear species now has a much bigger stage at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, with the launch of a newly upgraded sun bear exhibit designed to champion conservation and captivate visitors.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the revamped exhibit is also able to accommodate more sun bears in a spacious day stall area, where the public can witness their charm up close.
'It aims to strengthen conservation efforts, educate the public and raise awareness about the threats faced by this vulnerable species, especially from wildlife crime,' he said at the launching ceremony yesterday.
'It marks a major step forward in promoting conservation and improving animal welfare.'
Timed perfectly with Malaysia's preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026 – where the sun bear will proudly serve as the official mascot – the launch is also expected to spark new interest among both local and international travel­lers.
The upgrade is the result of a successful collaboration between the Sabah Wildlife Department, Wild Welfare, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).
Fresh enrichment features and furniture have been installed to provide a more engaging environment to stimulate the sun bears' natural behaviours, ­creating a more dynamic and welfare-focused setting for the bears living in captivity at the wildlife park.
The RM230,000 upgrade, which began in January and wrapped up on April 24, offers visitors a closer and more meaningful experience with one of Malaysia's most iconic wildlife species.
Dr Wong Siew Te, founder of the BSBCC, described the sun bear as 'the smallest bear species, but one of the most threatened, often falling victim to the 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, praised the park's efforts, calling it inspiring to see Lok Kawi Wildlife Park priori­tising the mental and physical well-being of its animals.
He said Wild Welfare will continue to support the wildlife park by providing training and technical advice to assist in further improvements.
Currently, Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is home to seven sun bears – three males and four females – many of whom were rescued from illegal ownership or voluntarily surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Since 2015, the park has successfully rehabilitated and released 13 sun bears back into the wild, reinforcing its critical role as a rescue and rehabilitation centre.
The newly upgraded sun bear exhibit is now open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm.