First rehabilitated sun bear returns to the wild in Sabah

Wong Siew Te gently lifting a sedated Natalie in preparation for her health check and transportation. — Pictures courtesy of Sabah Wildlife Department and Borneon Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Natalie was transported to her new home in a Lahad Datu forest reserve by a helicopter provided by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd. 

The field crew carried Natalie to the release spot.

Natalie's first moments of freedom in the wild.

KOTA KINABALU, May 25 — Natalie, the sun bear in Sabah who was rescued after poachers killed her mother, became the first to be released into the wild after she returned to the reserve forests of Lahad Datu last week.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) founder Wong Siew Te said Natalie, who arrived at the centre in December 2010 aged three months, has come of age in the four and a half years under their care and that the rare sun bear is now ready to fend for herself.

“Releasing her was a moment of bittersweet joy,” Wong told Malay Mail Online today.

“I cared for her like a daughter. I had brought her for walks in the forest, fed her, taught her what food to identify and played with her. It was sad to let her go but I know she belongs in the forest,” he added. Read More

Source: themalaymailonline.com

Car wash worker fined RM35,000 for having sun bear

In safe hands: The sun bear resting in a cage after it was rescued by officials from the Wildlife and National Parks Department in Larkin.

JOHOR BARU: A car wash worker was fined RM35,000 in default eight months’ jail by the Sessions Court here after he pleaded guilty to possessing a sun bear.

Mohd Roshdam Bilal, 29, admitted having the protected animal at around noon on May 13 at a shoplot in Susur 4, Jalan Tun Razak, here.

He was charged under Section 68 (1)(a) of the Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a jail term of not more than three years or both upon conviction.

Mohd Roshdam did not settle the fine. Sessions judge Azura Alwi ordered the jail term to begin from the date of arrest. Wildlife and National Parks Department prosecuting officer Shamsul Hakim Ahmad prosecuted the case while Mohd Roshdam was not represented.

It was previously reported that the two-year-old sun bear was found locked in a cage in the shoplot and was probably in the midst of being sold to local restaurants in the area.

The sun bear is a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 but is often hunted for its paws, which are used to make medicinal soup. There has been no study to prove that the soup has medicinal value but each bowl can be sold at between RM400 and RM900.

Source: thestar.com.my