UMS Sandakan students get taste of sun bear conservation
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Student volunteers from UMS Sandakan pose during the preparation and design of enrichment items for the sun bears. SANDAKAN: A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Sandakan recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Sepilok, Mile 14, here. The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman. Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji, and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department. In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform. 'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director. 'It gave us first-hand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.' He added. He said the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life. A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts. 'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today.' 'Everyone did a great job even though but what matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' Wong said. Wong has worked with sun bears for over 27 years. He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival. Wong also welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future. The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre. One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.' The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Daily Express
UMS Sandakan students get taste of sun bear conservation
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Student volunteers from UMS Sandakan pose during the preparation and design of enrichment items for the sun bears. SANDAKAN: A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Sandakan recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Sepilok, Mile 14, here. The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman. Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji, and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department. In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform. 'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director. 'It gave us first-hand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.' He added. He said the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life. A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts. 'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today.' 'Everyone did a great job even though but what matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' Wong said. Wong has worked with sun bears for over 27 years. He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival. Wong also welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future. The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre. One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.' The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
UMS Sandakan students get hands-on with sun bear conservation
A group photo with Dr Wong Siew Te at the end of the programme. SANDAKAN (June 26): A group of students from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently spent their morning contributing to wildlife conservation efforts by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan. The initiative, titled Hands for Paws, was organised by the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture Students' Association. It brought together 19 undergraduate students from various Agricultural Science majors, along with their accompanying lecturer, Dr Sharif Azmi Abdurahman. Throughout the half-day programme, the students were involved in a series of conservation activities under the guidance of Boniface Joss, Bear Care Coordinator, and Kelson Kuangon, Bear Keeper at BSBCC. These included cleaning sun bear enclosures, carrying out fence maintenance, and enhancing the natural surroundings of the centre. They also planted native tree saplings such as Belian, Kapur Paji and Laran Putih, which were contributed by the Sabah Forestry Department. In a more creative and engaging task, the students designed and prepared enrichment items for the bears, such as puzzle logs filled with hidden treats. These items stimulate natural behaviours like foraging and exploring, while also supporting the bears' mental well-being. After placing them inside the enclosures, the students observed the bears' responses from the observation platform. 'Organising Hands for Paws has been an eye-opening journey,' said Jeff Winter Joseph, the programme director. 'It gave us firsthand insight into conservation work and reminded us how even small efforts can contribute to something much larger. We hope this initiative inspires more students to get involved in volunteerism and conservation.' He added that the experience taught them not only about wildlife care, but also about teamwork, leadership, and the importance of doing something meaningful beyond academic life. A highlight of the visit was a special session with Dr Wong Siew Te, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BSBCC, who praised the group for their efforts. 'I deeply thank the students from UMS Sandakan for their contributions today. Everyone did a great job. Even though it was just for a few hours, sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit. What matters most is the spirit and commitment from the students,' said Dr Wong, who has worked with sun bears for over 27 years. He also reminded the students that the sun bear is the world's least-known bear species. He stressed the importance of education, awareness, and youth involvement in ensuring their survival. Dr Wong welcomed the opportunity for more collaborations between students and the centre in the future. The programme left a lasting impact on the students, many of whom were visiting BSBCC for the first time. They described the experience as unforgettable, particularly the rare opportunity to enter the sun bear enclosures, which are usually off-limits to the public. Several shared how working alongside BSBCC staff gave them a deeper understanding of the vital conservation work carried out at the centre. One student summed up the experience by saying, 'It's one thing to learn about conservation in class. But seeing it up close, getting your hands dirty and being a part of it is something we'll carry with us long after we graduate.' The students left the centre not only with muddy boots and tired arms, but also with a renewed appreciation for environmental efforts and a stronger motivation to take part in future community and volunteer initiatives. The student organisers aim to carry out similar efforts in the near future, continuing the same spirit of service, learning, and environmental engagement.
The Star
31-05-2025
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Upgrade in bilateral ties
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