Kota Kinabalu: Sabah launched a 10-year Bornean Sun Bear Action Plan 2025-2034, Wednesday, to safeguard the endangered species through targeted conservation efforts.
Unveiled by the State Wildlife Department and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), with assistance from Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), the Plan addresses threats such as habitat loss and poaching.
“By having the Action Plan, it fulfils international requirements. Just as forest reserves and protected areas must have management plans, the same applies to endangered species,” said Sabah Wildlife Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar.
“With the sun bear chosen as the mascot for Visit Malaysia 2026, the timing for this action plan is perfect.
“Protecting sun bears means preserving Borneo’s rainforests, some of the oldest in the world at 130 million years, and all the life they support,” he told a press conference.
The decline of sun bears in Sabah is primarily caused by habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting for traditional Chinese medicine (particularly for bear bile), the pet trade, incidental snaring and road construction projects which may result in more roadkill incidents.
A budget of RM4.7 million is required to implement the 2025-2034 Action Plan aimed at protecting one of Borneo’s iconic species while supporting the State’s wider conservation goals.
The funding, which still needs to be secured through various fundraising efforts rather than direct government allocation, will support a collaborative approach between government agencies, conservation experts and local communities to protect sun bears throughout Sabah.
Those interested in contributing to this sun bear conservation initiative can get in touch with the Sabah Wildlife Department for more information.
Mohd Soffian pointed out that the tourism industry benefits many aspects beyond just entrance fees to conservation centres.
“Locals are hired to make souvenirs and special products that visitors can only find here,” he said.
BSBCC founder cum Chief Executive Officer Dr Wong Siew Te said the action plan works together with other conservation initiatives because it covers forest protection, law enforcement and public education.
“As an umbrella species in Borneo’s ecosystem, protecting sun bears helps safeguard other wildlife and their habitats.
“With climate change, we are running out of time. As human populations grow, we need more food and land, leaving less space for wildlife,” he said.
The Action Plan cleverly links conservation with economic benefits, especially through nature-based tourism. This creates benefits for both wildlife and local communities.
“After logging and oil palm, tourism is now a major income source for Sabah,” said Wong.
“When tourists visit, they bring money that helps the local economy and creates jobs at all levels, even generating revenue for the Government,” he added.
Additionally, local knowledge and community involvement are central to the plan’s approach.
“If we try to conserve sun bears without involving the locals who live next to forest reserves, it simply would not work,” said Wong.
“Only when locals are doing well can wildlife thrive. If locals are struggling to meet their basic needs, wildlife protection becomes impossible,” he said.
One major challenge is that researchers and conservationists do not know how many sun bears live in Sabah and a key priority of the Plan is to conduct a detailed population survey.
“We do not know the exact numbers yet. Hopefully, we will have this information within five years, not the full 10 years of the Plan,” Wong said.
Wong noted, however, that sun bears can be found throughout Sabah’s forests, describing these mammals as adaptable animals that can survive in various environments, even harsh conditions like the Nipah Swamp Forest at the Kinabatangan River mouth, where they feed on palm seeds and shellfish.
Wong recalled releasing a rehabilitated sun bear named Itam back to the wild. “I wished her never to see humans again.
Humans largely determine whether wildlife survives or disappears forever,” he said.
DGFC Director Dr Benoit Goossens said they gathered input from local communities, government offices and non-governmental organisations. “It was truly a collaborative effort,” he said.
While funding remains a challenge, Benoit is hopeful because some initiatives are already underway.
“We are not waiting for all the funding to start implementing this plan.
“We have ongoing research projects, including a PhD student using hair samples and genetic analysis to estimate sun bear population density in protected forests.
“Sabah has many active conservation organisations working closely with the government,” he said, adding that conservation is never easy, but their persistence is paying off.
Also present was the Ministry’s Assistant Secretary (Environment) Sarah Audrey Alexius.