About Sun Bear


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The Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear species in the world and one of the least studied. They inhabit the tropical forests of South East Asia, ranging from the eastern tip of India, Bangladesh, through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Click image to See Sun Bear Range Map

Throughout their range, sun bears are being threatened by large scale habitat destruction, forest fires, poaching for their gall bladders and other body parts and illegal pet trade. The primary threat to wild sun bear populations in Indonesia is habitat loss. This in turn gives rise to conflict between humans and bears as bears pushed out of their natural habitat and occasionally enter gardens and feed on crops. (Read More : IUCN Red List Threatened Species)


About Sun Bear

The Malayan sun bear trade not only fulfils domestic demand but also illegal exports. Click image to read WSPA Report about Bear Trade in Indonesia

Sun bears have been protected in Indonesia since 1973. It is illegal to trade in or posses sun bears and their parts. Despite fairly good legal protection on paper, law enforcement in Indonesia is weak at its best. This also applies to many other rare and endangered species such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and clouded leopards. The Bornean lowland dipterocarp forests are extremely rich in biodiversity. Sadly, these forests are rapidly being destroyed by the over-harvesting of trees, conversion to oil palm plantations, and forest fires. Landslides, erosion, local droughts and flooding, are increasing in frequency due to this over-exploitation and destruction.

In 1997, Gabriella Fredriksson began long term research on sun bears in the Sungai Wain Protection Forest. The forest, located with Balikpapan’s boundaries, is home to an estimated 50-100 wild sun bears. Gabriella’s research and conservation efforts generated publicity and focused attention on the sun bear. In 2001, Balikpapan, one of the largest cities on Indonesian Borneo, named the sun bear as its official mascot.

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KWPLH is home to five sun bears (3 males: 2 females). All were taken from the wild as cubs and were kept illegally as pets. These bears were confiscated between 2002-2004. The aim of these confiscations was to raise awareness among the local public about sun bears and conservation whilst highlighting the sun bears as the municipality’s mascot.

In August 2005, Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (KWPLH) was formed. Caretaking of the bears and the education facility was formally granted to KWPLH by the local government in Balikpapan, and construction began on the sun bear enclosure. In February 2006, the 5 sun bears at KWPLH were finally moved from barred cages to their new forested enclosure.

The enclosure is approximately 1.3 hectares (3.25 acres) of secondary forest surrounded by electric and chain-link fences. Some of the bears’ favorite fruit trees are amongst the many species that fill the enclosure. Two climbing frames near the enclosure edge provide great viewing opportunities as do the twice daily feedings, when food is spread in the enclosure. Visitors can observe the sun bears from the visitor boardwalk, which surrounds the enclosure.

The enclosure setting benefits both bears and visitors. A naturalistic enclosure promotes natural behaviors, which is highly beneficial for the health and welfare of the bears. At the same time, visitors gain an understanding of bear behavior and habitat. By seeing animals in a natural environment people will be less pleased seeing rare and protected wildlife in small barred cages or kept on chains.

The ultimate goal of the bear enclosure is to instill a more positive attitude toward sun bears and knowledge about their conservation status amongst the local population, and ultimately reduce trade in wildlife, and create support for forest conservation activities.

Come see the sun bears

The visitor boardwalk is open everyday between 9:00 a.m. and 17:00 p.m. In the wild, bears spend most of their day foraging for food. You can watch the sun bears at KWPLH forage twice a day, at 9:00 a.m. or 15:00 p.m. This is the best time to get a close look at the bears. Food and special treats are hidden near the boardwalk. You can watch bears climb, dig, and sniff their way around the enclosure while they search for it!

The Sun Bear Enclosure was established with assistance from:

Confiscated from illegal ownership, five Malayan Sun Bears now make their home at KWPLH’s natural enclosure. Unlike the small cages they were kept in as pets, here they can explore, dig, climb trees, forage, and carry out all the other “bear” necessities. Visitors can observe bears in their forest island from the surrounding boardwalk and shaded towers.

Anna

Anna, Photograph by Handri Ramdhani

Sex :

Female
Appearance :

Anna is the smallest bear at KWPLH, weighing only 30 kg or 66 lbs.
Background :

Anna and Bennie arrived together. They had been kept in a loud restaurant as an attraction to draw customers.
Character :

Originally Anna was very shy and nervous. Strangers scared her, as did loud or sudden noises. Imagine how awful the restaurant must have been for her! Since moving into the enclosure, Anna has become much calmer. She tends to prefer exploring the enclosure to wrestling and socializing with the other bears. She sometimes bosses Harris and Bennie around, but Idot pushes her around.
Hobbies :

Anna is a great climber and acrobat. She is a keen forager and can find even the most well-hidden treats.
Likes :

Finding smears of honey on the climbing structure. A cool shower from the hose at the end of the day.
Dislike :

Being locked in a cage by herself.

 

Bennie

Bennie, Photograph by Handri Ramdhani

Sex :

Male
Appearance :

Bennie is a chubby bear with a wrinkly forehead that gives him a worried look. What is most noticeable about Bennie, though, is that he has no claws or canine teeth.
Background :

Pet owners are frequently dismayed when cubs grow into adults. Removing Bennie’s claws and canines may have made him a cuddlier pet, but it also made him sick and permanently disabled. The resulting infections in his paws and jaw have been healed, but his teeth and claws will never grow back.
Character :

Bennie quickly learns special tricks to get around his disability. While some foods are specially prepared for him he has figured out how to handle most things. He opens oranges by rolling and squashing them and drops icy fruit blocks (tasty treats!) onto concrete to bust them open.
Hobbies :

Eating mangos.
Likes :

Mangos. Bennie will turn a mango seed over and over in his mouth until every last bit of fruit is gone.
Dislike :

Waiting for food.

Idot

Idot, Photograph by Handri Ramdhani

Sex :

Female
Appearance :

Idot looks like she is wearing a fur coat that is too big for her. She has lots of wrinkles and extra skin. She also has a scar ringing her chest, just behind her forelimbs.
Background :

While a cub, Idot’s captors tied a metal cable around her waist. By the time she was confiscated the wire had grown into her chest and it was unclear whether or not she would survive. The band was removed, revealing a very large and serious wound around her middle. She survived, but with scars.
Character :

Idot likes hanging out with the boys. She wrestles with Batik and takes long walks with Harris. She is a heavy sleeper and can be difficult to wake.
Hobbies :

Wrestling with the boys. Idot will even wrestle while hanging upside down by only two paws. She also loves digging and is frequently is covered in mud from head to toe.
Likes :

Despite her chubby appearance Idot enjoys light foods, such as cucumbers and watermelon rinds.
Dislike :

Anna; and being around Batik when he is eating.

Harris

Harris, Photograph by Handri Ramdhani

Sex :

Male
Appearance :

At 50 kg (110 lbs) Harris is the largest bear at KWPLH. His has a blind right eye that shines green. Harris is the media star of KWPLH. His photos have appeared in many newspapers.
Background :

To entertain guests Harris’ owner fed him champagne, beer, and caviar — nice for us, but not for bears. He is blind in his right eye which was likely caused by a hard blow to the head.
Character :

Harris is the strong and silent type. He is usually calm and taciturn but does have bursts of silliness when he gets his favorite toys or when he smells mint.
Hobbies :

Harris wrestles with Bennie at 4:00 p.m. everyday. He also frequently stands or walks on two feet. This may be related to his partial blindness.
Likes :

Green beans, mint, playing with coconuts.
Dislike :

Turtles. When Bennie carried a turtle into holding Harris panicked (the turtle was unharmed). Harris can be easily startled by things on his blind side.

Batik

Batik, Photograph by Michal

Sex :

Male
Appearance :

Batik is the youngest bear at KWPLH. He is lean and leggy.
Background :

As a pet, Batik was kept in a metal bar cage only 1.5 m X 1 m. He has a chipped canine tooth and a related abscess in his jaw. Such injuries are commonly a result of biting the bars of a small or barren cage.
Character :

As befits the youngest, he is energetic and goofy. He loves to climb and wrestle, but he is a bit of a klutz and is always falling off things.
Hobbies :

Wrestling with Idot.
Likes :

Doing flips out of his hammock.
Dislike :

Batik is jealous when it comes to food and hates to see other bears eat without him.

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