The Star 10 Feb 11;
MATANG Wildlife Centre in Kuching saw the birth of a sun bear, marking a milestone for Sarawak Forestry Corp’s conservation and rehabilitation programme for the protected species.
The female cub was born last Saturday, weighing about 500g and measuring 15cm in length. It was the first cub naturally and safely delivered at the centre in the last two years.
The newborn and its mother are currently kept under tight surveillance to ensure their safety.
Sarawak Forestry managing director and chief executive Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the birth of the cub showed the success of the corporation’s breeding programme at the centre.
“We are very happy and thankful for this newborn cub as it will lead to a new generation of sun bears. It also shows that we are on the right track in protecting them from extinction,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The sun bear is a protected animal under the state’s Wild Life Protection Ordinance.
Len Talif said Matang Wildlife Centre currently has nine sun bears in its care, comprising three males and six females.
“Our rehabilitation programme is done in collaboration with volunteers and non-governmental organisations who conduct behavioural observation, enclosure enrichment and feeding. Other programmes will be implemented in the future to enable the sun bears to learn survival skills effectively,” he said.
He also said Sarawak Forestry could not work alone in conserving the state’s protected wildlife but needed the cooperation from everyone.
“We all have the responsibility to protect and care for our ecosystem. Matang Wildlife Centre plays an important role in providing care for our wildlife in order for them to survive. We will continue to set an example for the younger generation so that they will also learn to love and protect Sarawak’s legacy,” Len Talif added.
