KOTA KINABALU: A two-month old sun bear that was found almost lifeless at a forest reserve in Pinangah Telupid is recovering well.
The sun bear, which was found by plantation workers some 210km from here on March 11, has been named Wawa by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) officer who sent her to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan.
BSBCC chief executive officer Wong Siew Te said the cub was still under quarantine and its health was improving.
“Based on details given to us, Wawa appeared to be weak when she was found and those who brought her to safety decided it would be best to only give her water to drink,” Wong added.
“BSBCC is taking up the challenge to raise this bear and to teach her all that she needs to know before she returns to her natural habitat as an adult.
“Wawa is the 48th rescued sun bear to have arrived at our centre,” he added.
He said that it was an offence under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment to hunt or keep sun bears.
Sabah Wildlife Department director William Baya said while he was glad that Wawa had made it safely to BSBCC, the fact that she was found alone was worrying.
He said orphans were rescued and sent to BSBCC from time to time, indicating that their mothers might have been killed for its parts by those linked to illegal animal parts trade.
“There is no medicinal value in consuming sun bear parts,” he said, adding that those who continued to poach sun bears and other protected wildlife species would face legal action.
“Offenders may face a penalty of up to five years’ jail or a maximum of RM50,000 fine, or both,” he added.
More information on sun bear adoption and conservation can be found at http://www.bsbcc.org.my/donate.html or http://www.bsbcc.org.my/adopt.html.
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