Farmer hurt trying to protect son from sun bear attack

TELUPID: A retired teacher who was working on his padi field rescued his son from a sun bear attack at Kampung Entilibon in Tongod near here on Monday (Aug 20). 

Jackson Yongki, 58, was with his two sons aged 15 and 17 at his rice field when a Bornean sun bear – which is a protected species – approached them at around 7.30am.

He told a local daily that the bear tried to attack one of his sons, and so he instinctively hit it with a piece of wood.  

The animal managed to bite his left leg as Jackson, whose other leg was trapped in the mud, tried to get away.

He said the trio was aware that the sun bear was a protected species, and did not intend to hurt it or see it killed. 

“We hope the relevant authorities will be able to capture it soon so that it will not enter the village area again,” he was reported as saying. 

Jackson received treatment at the Kampung Entilibon health clinic.

According to the report, a team from the Wildlife Rescue Unit and Sepilok Bear Unit were dispatched to the scene to locate the animal. 

The Bornean sun bear is a protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Enactment 1997.