Sabah has introduced its first-ever 10-year Bornean Sun Bear Action Plan (2025–2034) to tackle the pressing threats facing the species, which is classified as vulnerable to extinction. Developed through extensive consultation, the plan focuses on habitat protection, stronger law enforcement, population monitoring, and public awareness. We catch up with Dr. Wong Siew Te, a wildlife biologist, tropical forest ecologist, and the CEO and Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), to better understand the plan, which aims to secure a viable sun bear population in Sabah while addressing key threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Image Credit: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)