KUCHING: The sick sun bear, which came to the attention of the public when a video clip of its sighting went viral earlier this year, has been found and handed over to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
The creature had previously eluded attempts at rescue but was finally captured by plantation workers under the guidance of SFC in Meradong district on Thursday.
The bear was surrendered to SFC's Swift Wildlife Action Team (SWAT) in Sibu and is expected to arrive at Matang Wildlife Centre here later on Thursday.
"The sun bear will be checked by a vet on arrival and arrangements have been made to nurse it back to health at the centre," SFC said.
The animal had been spotted in January by Indonesian plantation workers, who were shocked by its strange and hairless appearance.
Sun bears are the smallest of the world’s eight bear species and are found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra and Borneo.
They classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and are at risk of becoming endangered unless circumstances threatening their survival improve.
In Sarawak, the sun bear is protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.