The new bear house nears completion after a rainy season in Borneo.
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) phase I construction is nearing completion and with it the brand new bear house, said Siew Te Wong, Sun Bear Biologist and lead researcher at the BSBCC. Phase I of the construction includes the main bear house and four forest enclosures. Siew Te Wong, Wildlife Media’s colleague in Borneo, sun bear conservationist and featured researcher in BEARTREK has worked closely with Wildlife Media throughout his conservation efforts. His role in BEARTREK is key to understanding the story of not only the BSBCC but also the Sun Bears as they struggle to live in the rain forests of Borneo.
“I really felt part of a great team when we were filming my project for BEARTREK in Borneo. I’m proud to be involved because I think BEARTREK and its conservation funding campaign is going to be hugely important for bears,” Wong said.
On February 11th Wong said that the fences have begun to be erected around the center including the electric “hot” wire fences to keep the bears from climbing up and over the fences. The electric fences help to connect the forest enclosure to the BSBCC so that the bears that are able to roam in a natural environment can be controlled and observed. There have been some problems surrounding the forest enclosure regarding other wildlife coming in contact with the fence and regulating tree trimming so the bears can climb up the branches and escape.
“It was never going to be an easy task ensuring that captive bears have controlled access to primary rainforest; however, this is the feature that will set this sanctuary / conservation centre apart from any other,” Wong said.
So far, though, Wong and his staff have had some delays getting the BSBCC up and running. The new bear house should have been completed in
The new bear cages were completed in anticipation for the bears moving in to the bear house on April 5th.
January, but because of the rainy season in Borneo, there were delays in the building process. Luckily, they were able to get the foundation and the frame work of the building up before the rain began. The site is barely above the water table, so when the rain hit, the site turned into a “bottomless gloop,” which in turn delayed material deliveries and made a dry work space nearly impossible to find.
“Under the conditions, the contractor has done us proud and the quality of workmanship in the most important components, the cages, is excellent,” Wong said. In January, Wong and his team put the final touches on the bear cages, assembling the slide bars, pulleys, clamps and locks to keep both the bears and the keepers safe.
April 5th is the big day. The new bear house will be complete and Wong will be able to move the sun bears into the new house and enclosures.
“We hope BSBCC can be a model for conservation project where government agencies, NGOs, biologists, local and international communities all working very hard together regardless of nationality, races, sexes, social status, incomes, professions, etc., to save an endangered species in this country. We are all here working together because we want to make a difference for the future of sun bear, other precious wildlife, wildlife habitat, humanity, and finally to the mother Earth! Thank you all of you for your support and help!”- Siew Te Wong
-Jordan Green