'Adopt’ sun bears to contribute to conservation initiatives, companies urged

Private enterprises are being encouraged to “adopt” sun bears in an effort to contribute to the scientific research and conservation of this wildlife species. Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, stated that such efforts would not only support the comprehensive care necessary for the well-being of these animals but also give companies a positive brand image for their environmental commitment.

Datuk Joniston made these remarks during the launch of the Save Our Sun Bear Campaign, which was initiated by coffee chain Bask Bear Coffee in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The public can now visit Bask Bear Coffee outlets across Sabah and use a DuitNow code to contribute directly to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan.

The Assistant Minister emphasized the importance of taking action to protect these iconic wildlife species, as Sabah is home to the BSBCC, which is the only facility of its kind in the world. Although the exact number of sun bears remaining in the wild is uncertain, it is estimated that there are around 2,500 of them. Currently, the BSBCC cares for 42 sun bears that have been rescued from poachers and people who kept them as pets.

Joniston applauded the efforts of Bask Bear Coffee for previously sponsoring an orphaned Bornean sun bear cub named Tenom, who was rescued by wildlife rangers and transferred to the conservation centre. He also expressed the Sabah government’s appreciation for the contributions of the business sector to the conservation initiatives of the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Aligning with the Sabah government’s vision for conservation-driven tourism, Joniston acknowledged that campaigns like this enable both the BSBCC and the Sabah Wildlife Department to set realistic actionable goals for sun bear recovery.

Bryan Loo, the founder and CEO of Loob Holding Sdn Bhd, which owns the Bask Bear Coffee brand, said that they had previously entered a sponsorship deal with BSBCC to adopt a three-month-old sun bear cub named Tenom for a year. This sponsorship aimed to support the rehabilitation and eventual return to the forest of the young cub.