#bsbcc

Standing on an incompleten enrichment😅 back then, doesn’t look like much.

I’m about the same weight as a female sun bear, seeing whether the incomplete enrichment structure can hold me. Of course it would, it could handle the weight of the guys 😂. They helped to figure how to stabilise it and support the weight.

Fast forward now Chin’s Picnic Pyramid is completed (third pic). The amazing BSBCC team, APE Malaysia and @naturegirl has completed it. Although I can’t be there, am happy Chin climbed it, although food was use to bribe her 😂

I’m thankful for the chance to help out earlier on and the staff who willingly helped out. First time I ever saw through iron wood and take out nails etc. After we came up with an idea it takes a lot of work for it to materialise and the team is amazing.

All photos by Lucy yo

Ah Bui :) one of the rescued Sunbears at the BSBCC. She was initially kept by person who wanted to sell her for her gall bladder. Rescued and sent to BSBCC where she has a chance at life. Kudos to BSBCC for taking in the bears, a lot of dedication, work and care.

Sunbears are the most arboreal bears, they enjoy climbing up trees to forage for food or just rest. Smallest of the 8 species of bears and have long tongues, which they use use to look inside termite nests, bee hives and insects under a log etc :) Opportunistic omnivores so they eat pretty much most things they can find. Their sharp claws are used for climbing and foraging such as breaking apart bee hives. Happy Fu Long but like other rescued bears had unfortunate situations. Threats like pet trade, deforestation and illegal hunting.

This post may come a tad too late but nevertheless, I shall explain the purpose of this blog. 

I am Joanna Yeo, a recent Life Sciences graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS) andcurrently doing volunteering work at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan town, Sabah, Malaysia.   

I am an animal lover and have always wanted to do my part in wildlife conservation work. So when Mr Siva, my biodiversity lecturer mentioned about BSBCC's efforts in sun bear conservation and their volunteering openings, I knew I had to pounce on that opportunity. However, my summer breaks were always occupied with school programme involvements (summer school and internships). Nonetheless, that piece of information etched deeply in my head.  

With graduation (and being jobless), I am free from both work and school obligations. I knew it was time for me to get involved at the centre. 

Applying for the volunteering position wasn't an easy feat.  A great lot of persuasion and assurance had to be constantly fed to my parents before they allowed their only daughter to make her solo trip overseas. To me, it was also a great step towards independence. I had to make my own arrangements for flight, accommodation, vaccinations, insurance etc.  Once all of those were settled, I was on my way to my first unaccompanied adventure in the wild. 

(Photo: My BSBCC volunteer tag)

I have to admit that the place that I'm living in right now is not quite what I had expected. In fact, I was quite taken aback by the fact that I had to live in a wooden house (kampong style) for the rest of my time here in Sandakan.

Now going into my fourth day here, I have to confess that it isn't so bad after all. The sun rises very early here at Sabah. At about 5ish am, its strong rays will hit into the room. Roosters will begin crowing, birds start chirping and singing. The natural alarm clock of nature is beckoning me to get up from slumber. (Read more about Day 1's reflection here: http://jungleinjeopardy.tumblr.com/post/35494549385/not-what-i-quite-expected)

With all the amazing and rich experiences that I will be going through this one month, I thought to myself- "What a waste would it be to not document my every reflection in the wild and my involvement at the sun bear centre!" And so, this blog was created to share my thoughts and what I have learnt while working at BSBCC, to educate the public on the perils of the Malayan sun bears' endangerment as well as my experience in living with nature. The blog name "Jungle in jeopardy" refers the nature, its forests and animals that are on their way (or are already in) to endangerment and eventually extinction as a result of human activities such as deforestation.  With reference to the context here, it is the keeping of sun bears as pets and illegally farming them for bile extraction for their supposed 'medicinal uses'. The word 'jungle' in the blog title name, 'Are you lost in this jungle?' also refers to the concrete corporate jungle that is filled with intense competition from the city where I come from.  

Armed with my laptop, camera and smartphone, I am now on the road to doing my part for the sun bears' conservation as well discovering myself.

If any of my articles may be of interests to you or your friends, do feel free to share them around and spread the word.