Sunbear Release Collaboration
2020-07-15
Forest Solutions Malaysia (FSM) collaborated with the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in July 2020 to orchestrate a sunbear release into the Asian Forest Company Sabah (AFCS) area.
BSBCC has a number of bears ready to be introduced into the wild after rehabilitation. Selected for release at this location was a healthy 6 year old, 44kg bear named Montom. As an endangered species, sunbears require an isolated area far from human activities as found in AFCS to ensure their safety. The selected location is ideal as it is quiet and secluded.
The founder of BSBCC, Dr. Wong and FSM worked together to ensure roads to access points were prepared and the release location was secured. Previously, not all roads were appropriate for safe and efficient transport of Montom, so road evaluation and preparation was crucial to a stress-free release.
On the 9th of July 2020, Montom was transferred from the rehabilitation centre in Sandakan to AFCS, and was released into his new home the next day. Fitted with a tracking collar, Motom will be monitored continuously and this enables the team to evaluate the bears progress and adaptability into the wild overtime.
FSM hopes to have more opportunities to support and facilitate the rehabilitation, and recovery of endangered species into their natural habitats as seen with Motom. You can read more about this release on the BSBCC website at https://www.bsbcc.org.my/montom.html.
