In the canopy-covered rainforests of Borneo, the world’s smallest and least-known bear quietly roams. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a solitary, tree-loving creature with a long tongue and a golden chest patch as unique as a fingerprint. Yet this elusive species teeters on the brink of extinction.
They’re called ‘the forgotten bear’ for a reason. People don’t see them, don’t know them… and if they don’t know them, they don’t care. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
For over 25 years, wildlife biologist and tropical ecologist Dr. Wong Siew Te has dedicated his life to changing that. In 2008, he founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Malaysia’s first and only facility focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and, where possible, rewilding sun bears.
Despite being classified as Totally Protected under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and listed under Appendix I of CITES, sun bears face severe threats. Rampant deforestation, illegal hunting, and the exotic pet trade have caused their populations to plummet.
In the last 30 years, the population has dropped by at least 35%. Adults are killed for their bile or meat. Cubs are captured, stuffed in cages, and sold as pets. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
It’s a grim reality that every bear at BSBCC carries in its past. Many arrive emaciated, stressed, or badly injured. All carry psychological trauma.
Every rescued bear here is a survivor of cruelty. They’ve lost their mothers violently. They’ve lived in tiny cages, fed scraps, and treated like commodities. But they are also symbols of hope. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
Over the past 17 years, BSBCC has rescued more than 70 sun bears. While some are too injured or too accustomed to humans to be released, 13 have been successfully rehabilitated and returned to the wild – a slow, costly, but vital process.
Preparing Bears For Better Futures
Tucked away in the tropical heart of Sepilok, Sabah, just beside the famed Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) stands as a sanctuary for the world’s smallest and least known bear species.
Beyond its leafy walkways and protected enclosures, the BSBCC is a place of deep healing. It’s where traumatised sun bears rescued from illegal poaching, captivity, or habitat loss begin their long journey back to the wild.
Each bear is rehabilitated not just physically, but behaviourally – taught to climb, forage, break open logs, and re-learn the instincts that will one day help them survive in the rainforest.
We want to release every single one back into the wild. To do that responsibly, we must make sure they are ready. A sun bear that is too familiar with humans will not survive. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
At the heart of this preparation are forest walks; semi-wild explorations within controlled environments, where the bears can reconnect with their natural instincts. It’s through this careful observation that the most promising candidates are selected for release into protected forests.
One such bear is Itam, a female who was recently released. Her journey was bittersweet and deeply personal for Dr. Wong, who has raised many of the bears at the centre since they were orphaned cubs.
Every sun bear we release was once a rescued baby. We raised them from when they were tiny. In the early days, I released many myself because we had so few staff. I spent so much time with them, and they bonded with me. That’s why people started calling me ‘Papa Bear’. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
Releasing a bear like Itam is not a simple act of opening a gate; it’s a profound emotional moment.
Before I let them go, I always do a little ritual – just to say a prayer of hope that they’ll stay safe, that they won’t run into humans, and that they can live freely in the wild. I always feel the need to apologise to them. It was our kind – humans who killed their mothers, destroyed their forests, and caused them so much trauma. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
There is joy, too, in watching a bear disappear into the forest, into the life they were meant for. But for those who’ve raised them, the bond runs deep.
They’re like my children. Every time I release one, I know I may never see them again. It’s very emotional… but I’m happy they get a second chance. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
Beyond saving individual bears, BSBCC is helping to protect an entire ecosystem. Sun bears are keystone species. By digging for insects, breaking termite mounds, dispersing seeds, and creating tree cavities, they help maintain rainforest biodiversity. When sun bears thrive, the forest thrives.
If the sun bear disappears, our forests become poorer in ways we don’t fully understand. Saving them is not just about one species – it’s about preserving balance. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
That’s why BSBCC also invests heavily in education and public awareness. Since its founding, over 300,000 visitors have passed through the centre, learning about the species many Malaysians have never seen.
More than 2,000 international volunteers have contributed to the cause, and partnerships with universities are helping expand the body of research on sun bears, still one of the most understudied mammals in Southeast Asia.
All this work – to rescue, release and educate relies on steady operational support. In 2020, that support nearly collapsed.
Partnerships That Sustain
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Sabah’s tourism came to a standstill. Visitor numbers, once the primary source of income for BSBCC, dropped to zero overnight. The centre, home to more than 40 rescued bears, faced the bleak possibility of shutting down.
It was a nightmare. The bears don’t understand lockdown. They still need food, medicine, and enrichment. We were desperate. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
That’s when Yayasan Hasanah, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), stepped in with emergency funding under the Hasanah Special Grant. What began as a lifeline quickly evolved into a long-term partnership that sustains the centre’s ongoing conservation efforts.
Hasanah and MOF literally saved us. Because of them, we could continue feeding the bears, pay our staff, provide medical care, and keep our rehabilitation work going. – Dr. Wong Siew Te
Yayasan Hasanah, under its Environmental Impact pillar, prioritises biodiversity conservation. Their support for sun bears is part of a broader commitment to protecting Malaysia’s endangered species and fragile ecosystems.
Today, the BSBCC is home to 42 rescued sun bears, each receiving round-the-clock care, and for some, eventual release into protected reserves. The centre continues to run awareness programmes, host school visits, train volunteers, and collaborate with researchers — all crucial elements in shifting public perception of this misunderstood species.
And now, with the sun bear being named an official icon for Visit Malaysia 2026, there is fresh hope that awareness and support will grow on a national scale.
With this sunbear being the icon for Visit Malaysia 2026, we are hoping that more people would be aware of the local species and more would come forward to support the cost and the initiative in biodiversity conservation for our friend, the sun bear. – Yeoh Zhi Lin, Environment Advocacy Manager, Yayasan Hasanah
As Malaysia looks ahead to welcoming the world, the sun bear, once poached, caged, and forgotten, is stepping into the light as a national emblem.
The sun bear’s survival is a powerful reminder that protecting the smallest and seemingly forgotten species is key to preserving the balance of our natural world. In safeguarding their future, we also protect the integrity of our forests and reaffirm our responsibility to live in harmony with the environment.
