Traumatised and abused, this rescued sun bear finds freedom on camera

New Straits Times

18-05-2025

THE rhythmic thump of the helicopter blades echoes through the forest canopy — a steady, pulsing heartbeat in the stillness of the wild. As it hovers above the trees, the roar of the engine cuts through the silence, signalling both an end and a beginning.
The crate is slowly lowered to the ground, marking a poignant milestone for the team that has journeyed so far to witness a wild animal take its first steps toward freedom.
A breathtaking moment in Itam: A Sun Bear Story captures this powerful scene in wildlife conservation: Itam, a Malayan sun bear, flown by helicopter into the heart of Sabah's Tabin Wildlife Reserve. When the cage door lifts, she bolts out — then pauses.
With cautious steps, she enters the dense rainforest, her new home. She sniffs the air, scans her surroundings and disappears into the emerald wild.
Established in 1984, Tabin Wildlife Reserve spans over 122,500 hectares, making it Sabah's largest protected area. This sanctuary is home to some of Borneo's most endangered species, like the Bornean pygmy elephant and the elusive Sunda clouded leopard.
Now, Itam is one of them — a little bear with a big second chance. Her release isn't just a new beginning for her, but a hopeful step forward for sun bear conservation.
Her journey is the heart of a documentary by filmmaker Raymond Tan.
The film traces her path of healing and recovery at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), where she was brought after being rescued as a traumatised cub.
"There's not nearly enough known about sun bears. They're the least studied bears in the world," says Tan. As he spent more time learning about them, his concern grew. "The more I learnt, the more I realised how much we've overlooked this species," he adds.
Even in Malaysia — the sun bear's home — awareness is low.
"Most Malaysians know very little about them," Tan points out, adding: "Many don't even realise we have bears in our forests."
Sun bears, he explains, play a crucial role in the forest ecosystem, yet they remain in the shadows.
"They receive so little attention. More needs to be done. Not just in research, but in education, awareness and real conservation efforts."
His fear is simple, but sobering. "These amazing animals could disappear before most people even know they exist."
DISAPPEARING BEARS
The thought of losing this unique bear in the wild is deeply troubling.
Sun bears are the rarest bears in the world after the giant panda — and they're also the smallest. In Peninsular Malaysia, only an estimated 300 to 500 are left in the wild.
"That's not a lot of sun bears left," says Dr Wong Siew Te, founder of the BSBCC located in Sepilok, Sabah.
These distinctive bears are easy to recognise. On their chest is a golden patch shaped like the rising or setting sun. They live in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Unlike most other bears, they don't hibernate. Instead, they build nests high in the trees where they sleep.
As omnivores, they eat everything from insects and fruits to small animals — but their absolute favourite is honey.
With super long tongues, stretching up to 25 centimetres, they can slurp honey from deep inside beehives. That's why they're often called honey bears or beruang madu in Malay.
But even with all these cool features, sun bears are in big trouble.
Their numbers are dropping across Peninsular Malaysia.
In Sarawak, forests are being cleared rapidly, and hunting remains a major threat. Says Wong: "That leaves Sabah as their last stronghold. Protecting our forests here is more important than ever."
As more forests are cleared for plantations — especially palm oil — sun bears are losing their homes. Their habitats are shrinking and they're forced to come out of the jungle in search of food. This brings them dangerously close to humans.
Sun bears are fully protected under Malaysian law — but that hasn't stopped poachers. Their bile is still harvested for traditional medicine. Their meat is sold as exotic delicacies. Even their teeth and claws are turned into jewellery and so-called lucky charms.
Worse still, bear cubs are trafficked as exotic pets. They're often kept until they grow too big and too wild to handle, and then they're abandoned, caged or killed.
And it's not just hunting. Palm oil plantations, roads and urban development are cutting deep into the forest. Bears now have to cross roads between plantations and forest patches, and many never make it.
Explains Wong: "Palm oil fruits grow all year, unlike forest fruits. So bears come out to eat. But when they cross roads, they're easy targets."
The centre often rescues baby sun bears who have lost everything. Many watched their mothers get killed by poachers. Some were taken as pets and only surrendered when they grew too big to control. By the time they arrive, most are frightened, weak and deeply traumatised.
"All of our bears at the centre are traumatised," reveals Wong, adding: "Most come in emaciated, starving and shaking with fear."
He says people often forget that animals feel pain too. "Imagine seeing your mother brutally killed right in front of you. Sun bears aren't just wild animals — they're sentient beings. They feel fear, pain and loss, just like we do."
That's what makes Itam's story so powerful.
FAR FROM HOME
Itam was originally from Kampung Maimatom, Kemabong. But when she was found, she was far from home. Alone, frightened and injured, the tiny sun bear cub had wandered into an orchard in Kampung Kuala Sabinait, Pagalungan, Nabawan.
The orchard owner had gone out to check after hearing his dogs barking. That's when he saw the helpless cub, weak and covered in bite wounds, likely inflicted by the dogs. He kept her for 21 days, unsure of what to do. Eventually, he made the right decision: he surrendered her to the Sabah Wildlife Department. She was first sent to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.
Then, on July 27, 2020, Itam arrived at the BSBCC and became the 64th bear to come under their care.
During her health check, the team discovered something heartbreaking — a severe dental problem that was likely caused by stress-induced cage biting, a sign of deep emotional trauma.
At the BSBCC, almost every sun bear bears the scars of trauma. Some pace endlessly in their enclosures. Others tear at their own fur. A few bark in distress — confused, fearful, lost. Their repetitive, haunting behaviours reveal a deep psychological pain that words can't fully express.
"It's called stereotypic behaviour, a response to chronic stress and psychological trauma," explains Wong.
Itam's deep fear of humans made it hard for her to bond with the keepers at the centre.
"Whenever we receive a sun bear, the first thing we try to do is build trust," says Wong, adding: "The keepers have to become like surrogate mothers — offering comfort, safety and calm."
This trust is vital. Without it, the bears won't eat well or recover. "They need to feel safe," he continues. "Only then can they begin to heal."
But it's a delicate balance.
"It's a catch-22," Wong admits, adding: "We need them to trust us, but not so much that they grow too attached. If they become too dependent on humans, they won't survive in the wild."
The goal of the centre is to ensure that each sun bear be given a fighting chance to survive. But sadly, all of the 42 remaining bears presently aren't able to survive in the wild.
At the BSBCC, Itam was cautious around people, but she was placed with other bear cubs her age and quickly formed a special bond with one named Kipaku.
Unlike Itam, who was shy and kept her distance from humans, Kipaku was bold, playful and completely at ease. His confidence rubbed off on her, helping Itam slowly come out of her shell.
Over time, Itam grew more confident in the wild. She preferred sleeping in the forest canopy instead of returning to the bear house. Her keepers found it hard to spot her — she kept her distance, barked at them and only a few were allowed to manage her to limit human contact.
She was often seen climbing trees at night and snacking on ants and wild fruits. Her feeding routine was gradually changed to make it more natural, and all signs pointed to one thing: Itam was ready to return to the wild.
"One of the best things about Itam is that she never got too comfortable around people," says Wong, adding: "She didn't bond with the keepers, not even those who've looked after her for years. Unless there's food involved, she wanted nothing to do with us."
This natural wariness made her an ideal candidate for release.
For Tan, documenting Itam's story was an unforgettable experience. He recalls: "Nothing prepares you to meet a real sun bear for the first time. I had tears in my eyes."
The filmmaker had first come across Wong's work through an article and it sparked something in him. He was immediately intrigued by the idea of telling the story of sun bears, a species rarely seen or talked about.
"No one had really highlighted them before," he reveals. "I knew this was a story that needed to be told."
Tan and his crew spent nearly a month filming Itam's journey. It was tough; they faced sweltering heat, long treks through dense jungle, surprise run-ins with wild animals and more leeches than they could count.
But to them, every challenge was worth it. "We wanted to show people not just how beautiful sun bears are," shares Tan, "but what they endure and how deeply they deserve a chance to survive."
Documenting the elusive sun bear was also no easy task. Wildlife doesn't follow a script and every moment is unpredictable. "You can't tell a sun bear where to go or what to do," Tan laughs, adding: "You just have to wait, watch and hope you're rolling when the magic happens."
Itam is set to make cinematic history as Malaysia's first full-length wildlife feature documentary — a visually captivating and emotionally powerful film that not only tells the story of one of the world's most elusive bear species, but also shines a light on Sabah as a regional leader in environmental and sustainability efforts.
Tan's documentary will chronicle Itam's journey from rescue to release, and he hopes the cinematic screening will draw audiences from near and far. Scheduled for release at the end of the year, Tan is currently seeking partners to help bring the project to life and play a part in supporting vital conservation efforts.
"This is a chance to bring sun bears to the big screen and let Malaysians see the treasure we have — before it's too late," he says.
More significantly, the film captures the tireless work of Wong and the BSBCC in rehabilitating sun bears and giving those ready for the wild a real shot at freedom. In this case, Itam's release forms the emotional and dramatic heart of the documentary.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
As day of release approached, the team sedated Itam for a final health check, ensuring she was strong enough for the transition. Her tracking collar was secured, a crucial tool that will allow conservationists to monitor her movements in the wild.
The sun bear was released on March 10, 2025.
"It feels harsh," confesses Wong, "to just dump them in the wild and hope they figure out a way to survive."
He knows that once the cage door opens, Itam will face the same dangers any wild sun bear would. "They're on their own," he says quietly, adding: "But they're wildlife and they belong in the wild."
This release marks a major milestone for the BSBCC as Itam becomes the 13th sun bear to be rehabilitated and released by the centre.
Itam's story is the story of all sun bears — a blend of tragedy and hope. Her release into the wild isn't just a personal triumph, but a powerful reminder of what's still possible when we choose to care, protect and act.
As her journey unfolds on the big screen, there's hope that it will shine a much-needed spotlight on the plight of sun bears and inspire action before more are lost.
In the meantime, Itam roams the forest she was born to call home — wild, free and carrying the quiet hopes of a species clinging to survival.