UMS Sandakan students get hands-on with sun bear conservation
SANDAKAN (June 26): A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan.
The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman.
Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department.
In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform.
'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director.
'It gave us firsthand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.'
He added that the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life.
A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts.
'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today. Everyone did a great job. Even though it was just for a few hours, sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit. What matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' said Dr Wong, who has worked with sun bears for over 27 years.
He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival.
Dr Wong welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future.
The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre.
One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.'
The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in
the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement.
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Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
The man who speaks for Bornean sun bears
Wong Siew Te has been the champion of sun bears for over a decade. (Wong Siew Te pic) SANDAKAN : Wong Siew Te grew up in a time before gadgets, social media, and screen time. Instead, the Penang-born boy spent his days running to nearby creeks, rescuing animals, and helping out at his family's fruit orchard in Sungai Bakap – a lush plot filled with durians, rambutans, mangosteens, and coconut trees. 'Every Sunday, all of us kids had to help out,' recalled Wong, now 56. 'After working, I'd get some free time, and there was a little creek running through the orchard. I'd spend hours catching fish there. Then I'd bring them home and try to raise them. That was my childhood, always surrounded by animals.' Soon, his home in Bukit Mertajam became a mini zoo, filled with palm civets, turtles, scorpions, and birds. By age seven, Wong already knew he wanted to work with animals. Wong called the sun bears the doctors and engineers of the forest due to the various roles they play for the benefit of other wildlife. (Wong Siew Te pic) Today, Wong is a respected wildlife biologist based in Sandakan, and the founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), which he started in 2008. Tucked beside the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, it's the only one of its kind in the world and now houses 41 rescued sun bears in a semi-wild rainforest. BSBCC's work covers animal welfare, education, research, ecotourism, forest connectivity, anti-poaching, and more. 'Our bears live in a real rainforest filled with towering trees and natural sounds. It gives visitors a real sense of how sun bears live in the wild,' said Wong, who holds a doctorate in fish and wildlife biology. Sun bears are listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species but Wong believes their numbers might be even lower than orangutans. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre houses 41 sun bears. (Wong Siew Te pic) 'Orangutans are critically endangered. So for an animal that is even fewer than the orangutan, then we know that this wildlife species is not doing well,' he warned, attributing their decline to poaching and deforestation. That alarming fact pushed Wong to take action but his journey into sun bear conservation actually began much earlier, and quite unexpectedly. While studying wildlife biology in Montana in 1994, he met Dr Christopher Servheen, a bear expert looking for a Malaysian student to study sun bears. 'I volunteered and asked him to choose me,' Wong said. Before moving to the US, he had been working as a livestock vet in Taiwan. By 1998, he was deep in the rainforests of Sabah, launching the first-ever ecological study of sun bears for his thesis. Visitors get to see sun bears in the wild at the centre, unlike a zoo. (Wong Siew Te pic) In 2004, he travelled across Sabah, Sarawak, and West Malaysia to see the conditions of sun bears in captivity. 'Seeing these bears in these captive conditions … I was completely heartbroken. But I chose to find them, see more of them, and learn their stories,' said Wong, adding this is what sparked the idea for the BSBCC. That idea grew stronger with each visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Back then, rescued sun bears were temporarily housed at Sepilok, but it wasn't built for them. 'It hit me then – we need to start a centre just for sun bears,' Wong said. Wong's hope is simple but urgent: 'to have the sun bear continuously living in our forest for a long time. If we fail to conserve the sun bear population within 10 years from 2020, they could be gone.' He warned that the loss of sun bears would trigger a 'cascadic effect' across ecosystems. But to save wildlife, there is also the need to care for people. Sun bears can disappear by 2030 if conservation efforts fail. (Wong Siew Te pic) 'Only when local people are happy, then the wildlife will be happy,' he said. 'That's why nature-based tourism is so important. In Sabah, we still have forests and wildlife. We must protect them, not just for the animals, but for the communities too.' His vision? A Malaysia where humans and wildlife thrive together. 'We all can live harmoniously with nature. That's the way to go, especially now with climate change. We need the forest more than ever.' Find out more about Wong Siew Te here. Follow the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre on Instagram.
Daily Express
28-06-2025
- Daily Express
UMS Sandakan students get taste of sun bear conservation
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Student volunteers from UMS Sandakan pose during the preparation and design of enrichment items for the sun bears. SANDAKAN: A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Sandakan recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Sepilok, Mile 14, here. The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman. Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji, and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department. In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform. 'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director. 'It gave us first-hand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.' He added. He said the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life. A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts. 'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today.' 'Everyone did a great job even though but what matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' Wong said. Wong has worked with sun bears for over 27 years. He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival. Wong also welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future. The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre. One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.' The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
26-06-2025
- Borneo Post
UMS Sandakan students get hands-on with sun bear conservation
A group photo with Dr Wong Siew Te at the end of the programme. SANDAKAN (June 26): A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan. The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman. Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department. In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform. 'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director. 'It gave us firsthand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.' He added that the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life. A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts. 'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today. Everyone did a great job. Even though it was just for a few hours, sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit. What matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' said Dr Wong, who has worked with sun bears for over 27 years. He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival. Dr Wong welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future. The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre. One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.' The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement.
