The world's only Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sepilok, Sandakan is seeking public donations following the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their operation funds.

Since receiving physical visitors seemed impossible at this point in time, BSBCC has offered virtual tours since May 2020 to encourage audiences across the world to visit the centre from the comfort of their homes.

It is a one-hour virtual experience visiting BSBCC and viewing the bears up close and personal. The cost is RM40 and those interested can visit the website at www.bsbcc.org.my to learn more.

Despite losing physical visitors due to ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,wildlife biologist, Wong said they continue to persevere by seeking public donations to keep operating ever since the pandemic started early last year.

The centre has also been asking potential funding agencies to donate funds and encourage the general public to take part in its sun bears adoption programme.

The virtual tour is a new approach, but it is not as popular as I expected.
Nonetheless, we are doing the best to encourage public to support this initiative, said Wong, adding the centre is also promoting selling of merchandise on its website, Shopee, and Lazada.

At the moment, Wong said BSBCC is doing well with all rescued bears being well taken care of by staff on duty.

Last year, the centre brought in three rescued cubs nicknamed Betung, Itam, and Kipaku. They were cared by local residents in Ranau (Bentung), Nabawan (Itam), and Tambunan (Kipaku) respectively, prior to being rescued by the Sabah Wildlife Department and handed over to BSBCC.

This year, we have not rescued any bears yet and we hope all the wild bears are safe in our forest. The bear rescue operation during the non-pandemic and pandemic time were conducted by the Wildlife Rescue Unit.

The operation is still ongoing during the pandemic time without any delay. The rescue mission is considered as essential operation by the wildlife department, so there is no limitation on manpower or movement,Wong noted.
The Sabah Tourism Board in a series of ‘Enchanting Sabah Live’ will be featuring various tourism attractions around Sabah and webinar sessions every Tuesday via their social media platforms @sabahtourism. These live sessions will be conducted by local industry experts. The first feature will be the live session on site at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre starting at 10.00 a.m.

“Live sessions have been trending since last year and some industry members conducted sessions respectively with Sabah Tourism assisting to promote these. However, as lockdown approached these efforts were halted as tourism was not allowed to operate and in the short spans that tourism was able to do so, the industry was engaged in responding to the surge in demand from local travellers.Nevertheless, it is timely we regain momentum on this with much anticipation of reopening least domestic travel by the last quarter of the year,” comments Noredah Othman, General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board.