The Malayan Sun Bear may be the smallest of the bear species found around the world, but they are not short of protectors, thanks to the Sahabat Beruang Madu communities now set up in five regions around Malaysia.
Part of the Sun Bear Conservation Programme, the Sahabat network has been set up to foster a community sympathetic to issues surrounding conservation of the sun bear and Malaysia’s other threatened wildlife species. As at March 2017, five Sahabat communities have been set up in areas identified as in proximity to sun bear sightings or which have recorded human-wildlife conflict. The regions are Lipis (established in December 2015), Terengganu (May 2016), Kalabakan (December 2016), Mersing (December 2016) and Trolak (March 2017). Furthermore, these areas are important with regard to forest conservation. The Peninsular Malaysia sites are part of the Central Forest Spine project to promote interconnectivity of the now-fragmented main forest complexes of the Titiwangsa, Bintang and Nakawan Ranges; National Park of the Eastern Range; Pahang wetlands; and Endau Rompin National Park. Meanwhile, the Sahabat network in Kalabakan, on the southeast coast of Sabah and about 50km from Tawau, is a stepping stone towards increasing awareness about conservation in the Heart of Borneo, an effort jointly supported by the governments of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia covering 220,000 sq km of forest crossing all three borders. Balu Perumal, MNS Head of Conservation, says the creation of the Sahabat Beruang Madu network of wildlife protectors is one of the steps in MNS’s role of raising public awareness about conservation, for the Malayan sun bear in particular and other wildlife species in general. "By training the Sahabat community in looking out for and reducing human-wildlife conflict, to be the spokespersons to protect encroaching animals against retaliation, and for themselves to create such awareness among their neighbours and friends, we are empowering local communities to be an active part of conservation,” he says. He adds that communities living closest to wildlife habitats would also best serve as the eyes and ears of authorities fighting illegal and unsustainable logging as well as wildlife poaching and trafficking, and their involvement in conservation could only be good for the country as a whole. |
'By training the Sahabat community in looking out for and reducing human-wildlife conflict... and for themselves to create such awareness among their neighbours and friends, we are empowering local communities to be an active part of conservation'
– Balu Perumal The Sahabat community network also complements MNS’s other awareness and education activities, which include MNS School Nature Club camps and public events.
“Feedback from these events have been encouraging,” Balu says. “Many local communities do not understand issues relating to human-wildlife conflict; for example, why elephants or bears encroach into their plantations and cause damage. We want to train them not only about the problems, but also how to spot the signs and avoid such conflicts.” In the two-day Sahabat Beruang Madu workshops, these topics are addressed fully, though some messages are delivered via interactive activities, quizzes and games. Then there are briefings, delivered by the partners on their respective topics. FGV, for instance, talks about sustainable palm oil; MNS highlights the sad decline of Malaysia’s wildlife species; PERHILITAN shows videos of adorable sun bear cubs being rehabilitated at its rescue centre before being released; while UKM gives the breakdown about its radio collar research of released sun bears, at times with disheartening news about the loss (and suspected death) of tracked individuals. Follow-up action for the Sahabat includes further wildlife training, e.g. studying animal spoor. Knowledge about these signs, says Balu, gives the Sahabat community heightened awareness when they are back within their plantations and forests, and affords them the advantage of preventing human-wildlife conflict before they can occur. “We want the local communities to see wildlife species not as a threat, nor as invaders on their land. We would like people to co-exist with wild animals, avoiding problems when they can and contacting the authorities about conflicts or when they come across evidence of poaching. Humans are protectors of these defenceless animals, and we hope Friends of the Sun Bear will act as the first line of defence when it comes to wildlife conservation.” |
Jaringan Sahabat Beruang Madu kini semakin lebar dengan penubuhan komuniti wira hidupan liar bagi Wilayah Mersing, Johor. Sahabat Beruang Madu Mersing, kumpulan keempat selepas penubuhan jaringan di Lipis, Terengganu dan Lahad Datu, Sabah, dilancarkan oleh Mohd Nazlan Bakar, Pengurus Besar FGV Wilayah Mersing.
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Sahabat Beruang Madu Sabah Launch and Workshop
Date: 8 & 9 September 2016 Venue: Felda Residence Sahabat, Lahad Datu, Sabah. The third Friends of the Sun Bear group was set up in Sabah, with a visit to the Felda community in Lahad Datu. The programme was successfully carried out thanks to FGV, Felda, Perhilitan and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, with the welcoming address delivered by Alberto Domingo, FGV's Sabah Head of Plantation Zone 2.
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