Dr Wong Siew Te & The Sun Bear Necessities

Dr. Wong Siew Te is a renowned wildlife biologist, tropical ecologist and CEO/ Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sabah. Following his studies first in Taiwan, and then at the University of Montana, he has focussed his life's work on the Malayan sun bear, the smallest and least known bear species. In 2008, Dr. Wong founded the BSBCC to rehabilitate sun bears and reintroduce them to the wild, and the centre also educates the public about sun bears and their ecological importance. Beyond sun bears, Dr. Wong has contributed to various research projects and published numerous papers on wildlife conservation, raising global awareness about the need to protect sun bears and their habitats. Previously honoured as a CNN Hero in 2017 and a "Wira Negaraku" by the Malaysian government, his dedication to sun bear conservation is unmistakable. In May alone, we celebrated International Sun Bear Day, Endangered Species Day, and International Day for Biological Diversity, so we catch up with Dr Wong to find out more about all the good things and work he's been doing in the conservation field, protecting sun bears, endangered species and promoting the importance of biological diversity in our world.

Image Credit: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Instagram