KOTA KINABALU: There are big plans to see the expansion of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) which currently houses 42 rescued sun bears, but funding and manpower continues to be their biggest challenge.
BSBCC founder and chief executive officer Dr Wong Siew Te said that since its inception in 2008, the centre had come from a small sanctuary depending on public funding, government assistance to sales of tickets and souvenirs to sustain operations.
Among their biggest supporters were the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, he said, adding that the ministry even helped them raise funds for the Centre to get off the ground in 2008, and gave them a grant for operational costs in 2013.
On his future plans, he envisions a third observation platform, an interpretation centre and new office building, and a captive breeding enclosure.
“I hope the ministry will continue to support our work in the future,” Wong said, adding that for the BSBCC, these construction plans need financing.
Separately, they also need to raise RM1mil to build the Field Office and staff house for the Tabin Sun Bear Project, he stated.
According to him, all the sun bears at the BSBCC had been rescued from illegal pet keeping after their mothers were brutally killed by poachers.
Over the past 17 years, the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) had rescued 70 sun bear orphans and sent them to the conservation centre, Wong disclosed.
Sun bears are a Class 1 Protected Species under the state’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Other than the ministry, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), an agency under the ministry, has also assisted BSBCC in many ways to promote the Centre to local and international tourism markets as well.
Earlier, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the ministry has nurtured the growth and development of BSBCC since its inception in 2008.
She said BSBCC, the only one of its kind in the world for protection of this endangered species, is a partnership project with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), an agency under the ministry, and Sabah Forestry Department.
"Last year, we (allocated RM228,420 for the construction of Phase 1 of the Entrance Foyer, which has since been completed.
“This year saw an additional allocation of RM250,000 for construction of Phase 2 of the Entrance Foyer. Work is expected to start this year," Liew said.
She noted that this 17-year-old tourist attraction, which is home to 42 rescued sun bears, draws local and international visitors like a magnet.
"I was informed by Wong that the Centre received 79,362 visitors in 2024, with an average of 6,613 visitors per month.
“That year, international visitors from 115 countries visited, with the top three coming from United Kingdom, Australia and Italy,” Liew said.
She said the peak season is from July to October, generating the most number of visitors with more Malaysian visitors during the school holidays.
She said educationists, researchers, school children and teachers, wildlife conservationists, animal lovers, and the like make up the composition of visitors and tourists, the majority being nature lovers and nature-based tourists.
“Many may not be aware that the BSBCC is also the main implementing agency for the 10-year State Sun Bear Action Plan,” Liew said.
According to Wong, the main attraction to visitors at BSBCC is watching the sun bears' natural behaviour in their natural habitat, the rainforest.
He said visitors can sometimes see the bears climbing and sleeping high on the trees while random feedings enable the visitors to see them eating as well.
"We try our best to take good care of the bears and rehabilitate them. Thirteen rescued sun bears were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild so far,” he said.
“In addition, the latest two rescued sun bear cubs have been sent to Tabin Wildlife Reserve to undergo the 'soft-release' programme,” Wong said.
