KOTA KINABALU: With the Malayan sun bear named the official mascot for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), conservationist Dr Wong Siew Te sees the decision as a long-awaited recognition for the species he has spent decades fighting to protect.
As the founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) — the only facility of its kind in the world — he hopes this will spark greater awareness and support for the world’s smallest and least known bear species.
