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The Star
17-05-2025
- General
- The Star
World's smallest bears get bigger time in the sun
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.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
My dream trip led us to a famed zoo. It changed how I felt about Japan
I had fallen into a lazy, guilty tourist trap. What struck me hardest as a South Asian person was an elephant seemingly under 'zoochosis', shaking her head over and over again, her trunk swinging back and forth like a metronome, a downcast, self-soothing gesture that laid bare her distress. A fellow Australian tourist overheard my friend and I discussing these conditions. In a hushed voice, she summed up what we were thinking: 'It's naive, but I never expected this from Japan.' Ueno Zoo is not the only place in Japan where animal welfare standards appear poor. It's home to cafés with exotic animals such as nocturnal owls unnaturally tied to posts throughout a whole day, exhibits of fish crammed into unfiltered small bowls, zoos and aquariums with animals displaying abnormal behaviour and mental distress, and 'animal parks' where animals rely on human presence and fight among themselves. This is not to single out Japan as the epitome of animal cruelty in Asia. As a Sri Lankan-Aussie, I would be remiss not to mention the exploitation of elephants and other animals I've seen firsthand in Sri Lanka and in other Asian countries. These standards are unacceptable everywhere. Imagine the torment of being confined to a space where you're prodded, stroked and posed for the fleeting amusement of strangers. In the end, you are little more than a living ornament whose small life will not be remembered once the tourists leave. According to the British charity Wild Welfare, Japan remains well behind global standards in animal welfare for captive wild animals. Their laws are outdated, and many animals continue to live in inadequate conditions. Where do we draw the line on cruelty being excused under the guise of novelty? It can be easy to separate ourselves from the role we play in enabling these practices. The money I spent visiting Ueno Zoo was a direct contribution to the problem. Just by showing up, we as tourists can validate and reinforce systems of animal cruelty. Every entry fee we pay and every social media post we share helps sustain the demand for these attractions. In my opinion, Japan's popularity has helped many of these attractions avoid accountability. Some outsiders consider the country host to an inherently honorable culture, which makes it harder to question or criticise practices that anywhere else would be seen as neglect. Within Japan, there are voices calling for change, though they often go unheard. Organisations such as the Japan Animal Welfare Society have reported serious issues at Miyagi Zao Fox Village, including overcrowding, untreated injuries, and fox-on-fox violence. PEACE (Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation) has been vocal in its opposition to all forms of animal cafés.
The Age
16-05-2025
- The Age
My dream trip led us to a famed zoo. It changed how I felt about Japan
I had fallen into a lazy, guilty tourist trap. What struck me hardest as a South Asian person was an elephant seemingly under 'zoochosis', shaking her head over and over again, her trunk swinging back and forth like a metronome, a downcast, self-soothing gesture that laid bare her distress. A fellow Australian tourist overheard my friend and I discussing these conditions. In a hushed voice, she summed up what we were thinking: 'It's naive, but I never expected this from Japan.' Ueno Zoo is not the only place in Japan where animal welfare standards appear poor. It's home to cafés with exotic animals such as nocturnal owls unnaturally tied to posts throughout a whole day, exhibits of fish crammed into unfiltered small bowls, zoos and aquariums with animals displaying abnormal behaviour and mental distress, and 'animal parks' where animals rely on human presence and fight among themselves. This is not to single out Japan as the epitome of animal cruelty in Asia. As a Sri Lankan-Aussie, I would be remiss not to mention the exploitation of elephants and other animals I've seen firsthand in Sri Lanka and in other Asian countries. These standards are unacceptable everywhere. Imagine the torment of being confined to a space where you're prodded, stroked and posed for the fleeting amusement of strangers. In the end, you are little more than a living ornament whose small life will not be remembered once the tourists leave. According to the British charity Wild Welfare, Japan remains well behind global standards in animal welfare for captive wild animals. Their laws are outdated, and many animals continue to live in inadequate conditions. Where do we draw the line on cruelty being excused under the guise of novelty? It can be easy to separate ourselves from the role we play in enabling these practices. The money I spent visiting Ueno Zoo was a direct contribution to the problem. Just by showing up, we as tourists can validate and reinforce systems of animal cruelty. Every entry fee we pay and every social media post we share helps sustain the demand for these attractions. In my opinion, Japan's popularity has helped many of these attractions avoid accountability. Some outsiders consider the country host to an inherently honorable culture, which makes it harder to question or criticise practices that anywhere else would be seen as neglect. Within Japan, there are voices calling for change, though they often go unheard. Organisations such as the Japan Animal Welfare Society have reported serious issues at Miyagi Zao Fox Village, including overcrowding, untreated injuries, and fox-on-fox violence. PEACE (Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation) has been vocal in its opposition to all forms of animal cafés.
Daily Express
29-04-2025
- General
- Daily Express
‘Sun Bear Exhibit upgrade timely'
Published on: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Apr 29, 2025 Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), led by its Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, officially launched the newly-upgraded Sun Bear Exhibit at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (LKWP), here. According to statement from SWD, the enhanced exhibit, designed to accommodate more sun bears in a spacious day stall area for public viewing, 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. It said, timed perfectly with Malaysia's preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026 – where the Sun Bear has been chosen as the official mascot – the launch is expected to boost local and international tourism. The department added that it marks a major step forward in promoting conservation as well as improving animal welfare, and the upgraded exhibit is the result of a successful collaboration between SWD, Wild Welfare, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. '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 LKWP,' SWD said. Meanwhile, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre founder Dr. Wong Siew Te in the same statement said sun bears are the smallest species of bears in the world, and yet they are among the most threatened, 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 was inspiring to see LKWP taking important steps to improve animal welfare. 'Allowing sun bears to express their natural behaviours in captivity is crucial for their mental and physical well-being,' he said, adding that Wild Welfare would continue to support LKWP by providing training and technical advice to assist further improvements at the park. Currently, LKWP houses seven sun bears – three males and four females – most of whom were rescued from illegal ownership or voluntarily surrendered to the SWD. Since 2015, LKWP 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 (Thursday), was completed at a cost of 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 is invited to visit the newly upgraded Sun Bear Exhibit. LKWP is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Come and witness the charm of Malaysia's beloved sun bears – the smallest bears in the world – and be part of their conservation journey. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
27-04-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sun Bear Exhibit upgraded ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026
Gimmick launching of the exhibit: (From left) Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, Simon Marsh from Wild Welfare, Wong Siew Te from Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Maryati Abd Lakim, Curator of Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. KOTA KINABALU (April 27): Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar officially launched the newly upgraded Sun Bear Exhibit at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (LKWP) on Sunday. The RM230,000 enhancement aims to provide a more spacious and enriching environment for the sun bears, allowing the public to observe these iconic animals in a setting that closely mimics their natural habitat. The launch of the upgraded exhibit aligns with Malaysia's preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, where the sun bear will serve as the official mascot, further boosting both local and international tourism. The enhanced Sun Bear Exhibit The project, which commenced in January 2025 and concluded on April 24, 2025, was a collaborative effort between the Sabah Wildlife Department, Wild Welfare and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). It features newly added enrichment structures designed to encourage the sun bears to display their natural behaviors, enhancing their overall well-being. 'Sun bears are the smallest bear species in the world, yet they are among the most threatened due to illegal wildlife trade,' said Dr Wong Siew Te, founder of BSBCC. 'This upgraded exhibit not only offers a better living environment for the bears but also raises public awareness about the urgent need for their conservation.' Simon Marsh, operations manager at Wild Welfare, commended LKWP for its commitment to improving animal welfare. 'Allowing sun bears to express natural behaviors in captivity is vital for their mental and physical health. Wild Welfare remains dedicated to supporting the park with training and technical advice,' he added. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is currently home to seven sun bears — three males and four females — all of whom were either rescued from illegal ownership or voluntarily surrendered. One of the females, nine-year-old Mei Mei, was born in captivity at the park. Since 2015, LKWP has successfully rehabilitated and released 13 sun bears back into the wild, reinforcing its role as a key rescue and rehabilitation center. The upgraded exhibit is also part of LKWP's broader efforts to increase annual visitor numbers. Mohd Soffian noted that post-pandemic, the park has welcomed between 140,000 and 150,000 visitors per year, and hopes the new exhibit will attract even more. 'We aim to increase this number, especially with the new and improved exhibits,' he said. In addition to the sun bear exhibit, the park has recently upgraded its elephant enclosures, introducing a new 'Protective Contact' system that allows keepers to interact safely with elephants from a distance. Mohd Soffian emphasized LKWP's commitment to enhancing both its facilities and staff training to ensure high standards of animal care and to improve the overall visitor experience. Visitors are invited to explore the enhanced Sun Bear Exhibit, which promises a more engaging encounter with one of Malaysia's most beloved wildlife species. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
